AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF Review

Mid-range Desktop processor released in 2019 with 6 cores and 12 threads. With base clock at 3.2GHz, max speed at 3.6GHz, and a 65W power rating. Ryzen 5 1600 AF is based on the Pinnacle Ridge 12nm family and part of the Ryzen 5 series.
Price 100%
Speed 54%
Productivity 44%
Gaming 82%
Category Desktop
Target mid-range
Socket Compatibility AM4
Integrated Graphics None
Cooler Included Yes
Overclock Potential 0 %
Year 2019 Model
Price 85 USD
Number of Cores 6 Cores
Number of Threads 12 Threads
Core Frequency 3.2 GHz
Boost Frequency 3.6 GHz
Max Stable Overclock 3.6 GHz
Power Consumption 65 W
Manufacturing Process 12 nm
L3 Cache 16 MB
Maximum Supported Memory 0 GB
Price-Value Score 100 %
Speed Score 54 %
Productivity Score 44 %
Gaming Score 82 %
Max 1080p Bottleneck 38.4 %
Max 1440p Bottleneck 19.2 %
Max 4K Bottleneck 9.6 %
Overall Score 43/100

Check out the Ryzen 5 1600 AF! This Desktop processor is a key player in AMD's mid-range lineup. Unleashed in 2019, it's loaded with 6 cores and 12 threads. It has a base clock speed of 3.2GHz, can turbo up to 3.6GHz, and has a power draw of 65W, ready to elevate your gaming experience. The Ryzen 5 1600 AF is a result of the Pinnacle Ridge 12nm technology and is a part of the celebrated Ryzen 5 series.

The high number of threads (over 7!) in the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF makes it a monster for tasks that use all the cores at once (multi-threaded workloads), especially for the price. If you edit a lot of videos or work with giant spreadsheets, the Ryzen 5 1600 AF will give you a noticeable performance boost.

One of the best things about the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF is that it comes with a free CPU cooler! You can grab the Ryzen 5 1600 AF for $85 without having to spend extra on cooling.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF comes with a basic heatsink cooler, nothing fancy. But it gets the job done for this low-power CPU (TDP of 65W). You won't need a fancy aftermarket cooler unless you want to overclock it.

With Ryzen 5, AMD brings new innovation with its new architecture and a 12nm manufacturing process. Similar to Ryzen 5, Ryzen 5 is built for the AM4 platform with support for all the latest features like DDR4 RAM, super-fast NVMe SSDs, and Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Can you game on AMD's Ryzen 5 CPU? Absolutely! We got a solid 82% score in our gaming benchmarks.

The Ryzen 5 1600 AF is a great choice for both gaming and content creation, thanks to its high performance (0.98%) and at least 12 threads. Live streaming, eSports, and uploading gameplay videos are becoming increasingly popular, and this CPU can handle it all.

The Ryzen 5 1600 AF boosts up to the advertised 3.6 GHz, and with AMD's software you can push one core even higher to 3.6+0.1 GHz. But don't expect much beyond that without a serious cooler upgrade and manual voltage tweaks.

Looking for an affordable powerhouse CPU for work and play? Look no further than the Ryzen 5 1600 AF!

The included cooler with the Ryzen 5 1600 AF is rated for 65W and doesn't have fancy features like a copper base or LED lights. But it keeps the CPU cool enough to reach its XFR-boosted speeds, which is an extra 200 MHz! We were even able to overclock it to 3.6 GHz + 0.2 GHz without overheating. The cooler fan also blows down onto the motherboard, providing extra cooling around the CPU socket. If you want more RGB bling, you can buy a separate LED cooler from AMD.

Which GPU to Pick for AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF

Below is a comparison of all graphics cards average FPS performance (using an average of 80+ games at ultra quality settings), combined with the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF.

Graphics Card Price Cost Per Frame Avg 1080p Avg 1440p Avg 4K
AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 4 99 FPS
97.6 FPS
64.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT 16GB $ 1,099 $ 6 181.7 FPS
179.1 FPS
115.5 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB $ 269 $ 2.7 98.3 FPS
97 FPS
63.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB $ 899 $ 4.5 200 FPS
197.1 FPS
127.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24GB $ 999 $ 4.5 220 FPS
216.7 FPS
139.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24GB $ 1,999 $ 11.2 178.7 FPS
179.3 FPS
127.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 8GB $ 200 $ 2.3 85.7 FPS
84.6 FPS
58.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB $ 299 $ 3 98.4 FPS
98 FPS
67.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB 8GB $ 399 $ 3.6 109.9 FPS
108.9 FPS
74.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB $ 599 $ 3.8 159.7 FPS
156.3 FPS
109.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB $ 799 $ 3.9 202.9 FPS
203.5 FPS
144.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB $ 1,199 $ 5.7 211.2 FPS
211.9 FPS
150.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 3.5 227.4 FPS
228.3 FPS
161.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 24GB $ 1,599 $ 6.6 243.7 FPS
244.6 FPS
173.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 265 2GB $ 149 $ 7.2 20.8 FPS
18 FPS
12.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB $ 279 $ 10.2 27.4 FPS
26.2 FPS
16.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 285 2GB $ 249 $ 8.8 28.3 FPS
26.8 FPS
16.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 295X2 4GB $ 1,499 $ 20.7 72.4 FPS
68.5 FPS
47.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB $ 149 $ 8.1 18.5 FPS
15.4 FPS
10.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN BLACK 6GB $ 999 $ 20.6 48.5 FPS
45.4 FPS
31.2 FPS
AMD Radeon R7 370 2GB $ 149 $ 7.1 20.9 FPS
18.7 FPS
12.6 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380 2GB $ 199 $ 7.1 28.1 FPS
26.6 FPS
16.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 380X 4GB $ 229 $ 7.3 31.5 FPS
29.8 FPS
19.9 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390 8GB $ 329 $ 7.7 42.5 FPS
40.5 FPS
25.3 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 390X 8GB $ 429 $ 9.4 45.5 FPS
44.4 FPS
29.4 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY 4GB $ 549 $ 11.6 47.3 FPS
46.2 FPS
30.5 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 FURY X 4GB $ 649 $ 11.8 55 FPS
54.9 FPS
37 FPS
AMD Radeon R9 Nano 4GB $ 649 $ 13 50 FPS
49.1 FPS
32.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 2GB $ 159 $ 7.4 21.4 FPS
19.8 FPS
13.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB $ 199 $ 7.4 27 FPS
25.5 FPS
16.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB $ 329 $ 7.5 44 FPS
40.9 FPS
27.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4GB $ 549 $ 10.6 51.9 FPS
49 FPS
32.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB $ 649 $ 10.7 60.6 FPS
57.8 FPS
37.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN X 12GB $ 999 $ 14.4 69.6 FPS
66 FPS
43.3 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 460 4GB $ 140 $ 7.3 19.2 FPS
18 FPS
11.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 470 4GB $ 179 $ 4.8 37.4 FPS
35.8 FPS
23.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB $ 400 $ 9.3 42.8 FPS
41.3 FPS
27.7 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB $ 399 $ 5.9 67.7 FPS
65.8 FPS
43.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 8GB $ 499 $ 6.9 72.2 FPS
70.4 FPS
46 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB $ 79 $ 5.4 14.5 FPS
13.6 FPS
8.4 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN V 12GB $ 2,999 $ 30.5 98.4 FPS
98.4 FPS
67.4 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN Xp 12GB $ 1,199 $ 13.4 89.2 FPS
87.5 FPS
59.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 550 2GB $ 79 $ 5.2 15.2 FPS
14.3 FPS
9.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB 8GB $ 199 $ 3.8 52.2 FPS
48.6 FPS
31 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB 4GB $ 169 $ 3.6 46.7 FPS
43.6 FPS
27.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB $ 99 $ 4.5 21.8 FPS
20.3 FPS
13.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6GB $ 279 $ 3.7 75.1 FPS
72.5 FPS
47.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB $ 169 $ 4 42 FPS
40 FPS
25.6 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB $ 349 $ 4.4 79.6 FPS
77.6 FPS
50.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB $ 399 $ 4.6 86.9 FPS
84.6 FPS
55.4 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB $ 229 $ 4.5 50.9 FPS
47.3 FPS
30.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 590 8GB $ 279 $ 4.9 57.4 FPS
53.4 FPS
34.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 3GB $ 169 $ 7.2 23.5 FPS
22.2 FPS
14.3 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB $ 169 $ 6.1 27.7 FPS
26.3 FPS
17.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB $ 254 $ 5.4 47.2 FPS
44.3 FPS
29 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 3GB $ 170 $ 3.8 44.8 FPS
42.1 FPS
27.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB $ 399 $ 6.1 65.9 FPS
62.7 FPS
40.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB $ 409 $ 5.7 71.6 FPS
68.7 FPS
45 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB $ 499 $ 6.5 77.3 FPS
74.2 FPS
48.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB $ 759 $ 8.3 91 FPS
90.7 FPS
60.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB $ 149 $ 3.7 40.1 FPS
38.2 FPS
24.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB $ 160 $ 3 52.6 FPS
50.4 FPS
32.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB $ 220 $ 3.6 60.4 FPS
58 FPS
38 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB $ 229 $ 3.6 64.2 FPS
61.7 FPS
40.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB $ 279 $ 4.1 68.1 FPS
65.4 FPS
42.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB $ 350 $ 4.6 76.3 FPS
70 FPS
45.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8GB $ 400 $ 4.9 81.1 FPS
76.1 FPS
50.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB $ 499 $ 5.8 85.7 FPS
81.8 FPS
55.2 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB $ 499 $ 5.5 90.4 FPS
87.5 FPS
58.4 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB $ 699 $ 7.2 97.1 FPS
95.1 FPS
63 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB $ 699 $ 6.8 102.7 FPS
101.6 FPS
67.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB $ 1,299 $ 11.5 113.1 FPS
113.1 FPS
75.9 FPS
NVIDIA TITAN RTX 24GB $ 2,499 $ 21.5 116.2 FPS
116.2 FPS
78 FPS
AMD Radeon VII 16GB $ 699 $ 7.8 89.2 FPS
86.9 FPS
57.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT 8GB $ 379 $ 4.1 92.9 FPS
91.1 FPS
59.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB $ 479 $ 4.3 111.7 FPS
109.5 FPS
70.9 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 16GB $ 579 $ 4.4 132.7 FPS
129.2 FPS
84.8 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB $ 649 $ 3.9 167.6 FPS
163.1 FPS
107.1 FPS
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB $ 999 $ 5.6 178 FPS
173.3 FPS
113.7 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 6GB $ 249 $ 3.6 70 FPS
66.7 FPS
44.5 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB $ 329 $ 3.9 85.1 FPS
82.6 FPS
55.6 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB $ 399 $ 3.8 103.7 FPS
103.1 FPS
70.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB $ 499 $ 3.9 126.6 FPS
122.5 FPS
81.8 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 10GB $ 599 $ 4.2 142 FPS
138.5 FPS
94.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 10GB $ 699 $ 4.2 165.4 FPS
160.2 FPS
106.9 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 20GB $ 799 $ 4.8 165.5 FPS
163.4 FPS
113.1 FPS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 24GB $ 1,499 $ 7.9 189.9 FPS
183.8 FPS
122.6 FPS
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