AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is one of the best processors in the market. It is a powerful processor and offers compatibility and best performance with present and upcoming games when paired with an equally powerful GPU. Many GPU options are available in the market that go hand in hand with the processor, but with so many options, it can be quite puzzling and confusing to select the best GPU for the given processor. Last week, we reviewed a couple of AM4 motherboards for this processor, but today, our topic is the best GPU for Ryzen 5 5500 that doesn’t bottleneck and gives you maximum performance for the price.
A good GPU and a powerful processor go hand in hand. If a GPU and processor are incompatible, your system will suffer from bottlenecks that severely degrade your performance. At the same time, gaming is also very frustrating. Hence, a good and compatible GPU is the key to good performance and excellent gaming.
The GPUs listed here are the best in the market and have been tested and benchmarked thoroughly to ensure they provide the best possible performance for your needs. We are here to give you an overview of the GPUs and their capabilities so that you can decide based on the pros and cons of each GPU in conjunction with Ryzen 5 5500. You can also check our review of the GPUS for Ryzen 7 5700G here, as it provides better performance.
So, without further delay, let’s get into the list of top GPUs best suited for the Ryzen 5 5500.
Best GPU for the Ryzen 5 5500
For those who need a good GPU to pair with the Ryzen 5 5500, there are quite a few options you can consider. The RTX 3050, 3060, RX 6600, GTX 1660 Super, or GTX 1650 Super are good to pair with this processor.
All of these graphics cards lie in the mid-range segment and don’t bottleneck your processor, so that you can get the maximum out of your build.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC
Great 1080p performance.
Performance comparable to RTX 2070 Super.
Relatively Affordable.
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6600
Great 1080p performance.
Fantastic price to performance ratio
Impressive cooling solution
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming OC 8GB
Inbuilt Raytracing and DLSS Support
8GB of VRAM
Low power consumption
Factors to Consider When Choosing a GPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is an exciting processor with a low price tag but superb performance. It might surprise you, but the graphics card can easily be coupled with the latest high-end graphics cards without causing a bottleneck in 90% of scenarios.
Budget
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a GPU for a Ryzen 5 5500. First, if you have a high budget, you should go for the latest generation of NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon graphics cards. NVIDIA released the RTX 4000-series graphics cards last year, while AMD released the RX 7900-series GPUs.
If your budget is insufficient, consider the AMD RX 6000-series graphics cards, which provide the best bang for the buck with Ryzen 5 5500 CPU. Some notable mentions are AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and RX 6800 XT. These graphics cards have ample VRAM capacity, although they could be better if you want to play games with Ray Tracing.
Ray Tracing Performance
For Ray Tracing, we recommend you buy the RTX 3000-series GPUs, specifically the RTX 3080 or RTX 3070 Ti. These graphics cards provide better Ray Tracing performance, but their low VRAM capacity could cause issues if you want to play games at 4K resolution or even 1440P resolution in some cases.
Power Consumption
The power consumption of graphics cards is another critical factor when buying a graphics card, as electricity costs have increased. The latest-generation graphics cards come with far better power efficiency, whether you talk about the RTX 4000 series or the RX 7000 series. Moreover, you can always run these graphics cards at lower clock rates for significantly reduced power consumption.
Memory Size and Speed
You should pay more heed to the graphics card’s memory if you want to play games at high resolutions. The graphics card’s VRAM is not the only thing regarding memory. You should also pay attention to the memory’s frequency in combination with the memory and memory interface technology.
The latest flagship graphics cards come with a higher memory interface than 256 bits, so the overall memory bandwidth of the RX 7900 XT and the RTX 4080 is far better than previous-generation cards. All-in-all, the conclusive parameter of the memory speed is the memory bandwidth, and the higher the memory bandwidth is, the better the memory will perform at high resolutions.
GPU Recommendations for Ryzen 5 5500 Summary
| Award | Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Performance GPU for Ryzen 5 5500 |
|
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC | See on Amazon |
| Best Mid-Range GPU for Ryzen 5 5500 |
|
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6600 | See on Amazon |
| Best Budget GPU for Ryzen 5 5500 |
|
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming OC 8GB | See on Amazon |
| Best 1080p GPU for Ryzen 5 5500 |
|
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 GIGABYTE OC 6GB | See on Amazon |
| Best Value GPU for Ryzen 5 5500 |
|
MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER GAMING X | See on Amazon |
| Best Entry-Level GPU for Ryzen 5 5500 |
|
MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Super | See on Amazon |
GPU Recommendations for Ryzen 5 5500 At a Glance:
- ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC
- ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6600
- GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming OC 8GB
- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 GIGABYTE OC 6GB
- MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER GAMING X
- MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Super
GPU Recommendations for Ryzen 5 5500 Reviews
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC
Best Performance GPU for Ryzen 5 5500
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Great 1080p performance.
✓ Performance comparable to RTX 2070 Super.
✓ Relatively Affordable.
✓ Compact, Cool, and virtually quiet under load.
✓ 12GB of VRAM.
✓ Raytracing and DLSS Support.
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Not good for 1440p gaming.
✗ It's not a lot faster than its predecessors.
✗ Might struggle with demanding titles.
✗ Expensive.
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC provides the best graphics and high gaming visual fidelity. ZOTAC RTX 3060 has the latest features, such as High-speed GDDR6 memory, Active Fan control with freeze fan stop, efficient thermal design, Metal backplate, exceptional VR performance, and 2nd gen raytracing cores. The ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3060 is one of the best graphics cards in these times. This card offers a better alternative to the many options for people looking to play games with good graphics and excellent performance at ultra settings and higher resolutions. This GPU comes with a hefty VRAM of 12GB, which makes it suitable for more demanding games and future titles, but it requires a proper power supply to run as its TDP is 170W.
It supports real-time Raytracing, which makes the games visually stunning. At the same time, its clock speed ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz; it is also equipped with DLSS support, which employs AI to enhance the game’s performance while not compromising image quality.
As for gaming benchmarks, “Dying Light 2” ran at an average framerate of 67 fps while running a 1080p resolution and high graphics settings. In “Elden Ring,” one can achieve an average framerate of 73 fps while running at ultra setting and 1080p resolution.
Overall, the best graphics card for the Ryzen 5 5500 is relatively more expensive than the other options in the list. If you can go with it, I suggest you pick it without considering the alternatives. Moreover, the graphics card can be used with high-end processors like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D too. You can check the list of suitable graphics cards for Ryzen 7 5800X3D if you are interested in high-end GPUs.
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6600
Best Mid-Range GPU for Ryzen 5 5500
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Great 1080p performance.
✓ Fantastic price to performance ratio
✓ Impressive cooling solution
✓ PCI express 4.0 support
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Slower than its competitors
✗ Weak Raytracing performance
✗ Provides only 8GB VRAM
✗ Plastic backplate
ASUS DUAL Radeon RX 6600 presents you with a “mid-range” budget-friendly gaming experience. Equipped with RDNA 2 architecture, 8GB of VRAM, and a 7nm process, this GPU is dubbed the king of 1080p gaming. Also, the Radeon series of GPUs are known to have unprecedented compatibility with Ryzen’s line of processors. AMD graphics cards are known for their robustness, performance, and reasonable pricing.
AMD Radeon RX 6600 offers a mid-range graphics card that performs well regardless of affordability. One of its prominent features is “Radeon Boost Technology.” This feature automatically adjusts the game’s resolution in certain parts, which can dramatically increase the game’s performance while not compromising any image details and overall visual quality.
It is an excellent Ryzen 5 5500 compatible GPU with outstanding performance with 1080p resolution. It has 8GB VRAM and its clock speed ranges from 1626 MHz to 2044 MHz, offering the best performance and consistent frame rates for many currently available games. However, this GPU might struggle to maintain consistent average framerates at 1440p gaming for more demanding titles, making it our best GPU for the Ryzen 5 5500 for 1080P resolution.
Regarding its gaming benchmarks, RX 6600 performs exceptionally well on newer titles. For example, “Cyberpunk 2077” has an average frame rate of 60 while at 1080p resolution and high settings. For “Horizon Zero Dawn,” this GPU delivers an average frame rate of 87 fps while gaming at 1080p resolution with high settings.
Something to note here is that this graphics card doesn’t offer good Raytracing performance. So, if you are interested in the best GPU for r5 5500 with Raytracing, you might want to consider other options included on this list. However, for 1080p gaming, this card will provide the best performance for its price tag.
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming OC 8GB
Best Budget GPU for Ryzen 5 5500
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Inbuilt Raytracing and DLSS Support
✓ 8GB of VRAM
✓ Low power consumption
✓ Fantastic 1080P gaming performance
✓ Low temperatures under load
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Much more expensive than its predecessors while not much improvement performance-wise
✗ Slower than its competitors, such as RTX 2060 and RX 5600 XT
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming OC 8GB offers a complete gaming experience with more than enough VRAM and better thermal design. GIGABYTE provides an aesthetic design with two and three-fan variants at reasonable market prices. They are known for their exceptional thermal performance, more substantial build supported by a metallic backplate, durability, and comparatively better overclocking potential. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 is a budget-friendly GPU that offers Nvidia’s best features with an affordable price tag. This GPU offers many features, including Raytracing, 8GB of VRAM, a clock speed range of 1552 MHz to 2039 MHz, and DLSS support. It’s one of the cheapest GPUs to offer Raytracing, and due to its high VRAM, it can run most of the games at 1080p resolution, improving overall performance and gaming experience for the user.
It is regarded as a better option for many games and tasks when it comes to its direct competitors, such as AMD’s RX 6500 XT and offers PCIe 4.0 connectivity. It may not be the best GPU for its price and might struggle with more demanding titles, but it can ensure good performance and an overall smooth experience with its many features.
Regarding gaming benchmarks, “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” runs at an average framerate of 79 fps while gaming at 1080p. “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” on 1080p resolution shows an average frame rate of 87 frames per second, ensuring an overall solid gaming experience.
RTX 3050 provides a smooth gaming experience at 1080p with its Raytracing feature and DLSS support while being budget-friendly for gamers looking to buy the best GPU for Ryzen 5 5500. But gamers that demand high performance might have to gravitate toward GPUs like RTX 2060 and RX 5600 XT as they provide better overall performance.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 GIGABYTE OC 6GB
Best 1080p GPU for Ryzen 5 5500
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Can play games at 1440P with low settings
✓ High overclocking potential
✓ Often available at far lower prices compared to MSRP
✓ Better performance than its competitors and predecessors
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ 6 GB of VRAM might create bottleneck with latest AAA games
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 was one of the best GPUs upon its release. Today, this GPU might be overlooked by many people when it comes to making a good gaming PC, but this GPU is still one the best GPUs available on the market. It provides a smooth gaming experience and powerful performance and can be part of your build without overspending your budget.
RTX 2060 offers 6GB VRAM with clock speeds ranging from 1365 MHz to 1680 MHz, and it can easily handle most games while being highly compatible with Ryzen 5 5500. It also offers real-time Raytracing, essential for realistic in-game lighting and reflections depending on whether the game supports it. Its Raytracing performance might not be the best in the market, but at least it is available. Hence, this GPU can provide the best-looking gameplay while being extremely pocket-friendly.
Concerning its gaming benchmarks, RTX 2060 delivers a visually stunning performance. Moreover, “Just Cause 4” at 1440p resolution and very high settings, can achieve an average frame rate of 59 fps. “Strange Brigade” can run at an average frame rate of 89 fps with 1440p resolution and ultra settings. Similarly, “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” can be run at an average frame rate of 63 fps while gaming in 1440p resolution with high settings.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 is the best GPU pairing with the Ryzen 5 5500. If you are interested in high-end graphics cards, you can check our review for the GPU for Ryzen 7 5700X. It is a good choice for gamers who want to play games at decent frames per second and visually soothing graphics while being budget-conscious.
MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER GAMING X
Best Value GPU for Ryzen 5 5500
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Low price
✓ Nice design
✓ For most games it can output 60 FPS at 1080p resolution using medium settings
✓ Low TDP
✓ Good performance to power ratio
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Only 1 HDMI and Display port
✗ No Ray-tracing Cores
MSI GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER GAMING X is a very affordable GPU for Ryzen 5500 and provides an excellent gaming experience without breaking the bank. This GPU packs quite a punch with its 6GB of VRAM, and clock speeds range from 1530 to 1785 MHz. It can put out a decent performance and can run demanding titles at good resolution and frames per second.
The gaming benchmark of the GTX 1660 Super and Ryzen 5 5500 show promising results. When “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” was tested at the highest settings at 1080p resolution, an average frame rate of 79 fps was recorded. Moreover, games like “Battlefield V” at ultra settings and 1440p resolution output an average framerate of 64. For “Just Cause 4”, GTX 1660 Super has an average frame rate of 74 fps with high settings at 1080p resolution.
GTX 1660 Super is a great GPU that puts out the best performance and ultra-quality gaming experience without being overly expensive. As the benchmarks indicate, this GPU performs great at full HD resolution. This GPU is one of the most affordable GPUs on the market. It provides the best gaming experience without breaking the bank and is one of the best choices for budget-conscious gamers.
MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Super
Best Entry-Level GPU for Ryzen 5 5500
REASONS TO BUY
✓ One of the cheapest modern graphics cards
✓ Can provide fluent FPS using low settings at 1080P resolution
✓ Very low power consumptions
✓ Runs super cool
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Low VRAM might be a problem when running demanding titles
✗ Doesn’t stack well against the competition
MSI Super GTX 1650 is a budget-friendly AMD Ryzen 5 5500 compatible GPU you can buy. MSI is known for its sleek design, good thermals, and better performance due to its exceptional fan design and groundbreaking aerodynamic features. They also offer tools such as “MSI Afterburner,” which is a staple of the gaming community for overclocking graphics, monitoring thermal performance, and in-game graphics card performance monitoring, etc. The MSI GeForce GTX 1650 Super is an excellent choice for people who want to game at the best quality and good performance at a pocket-friendly price. This GPU provides 4GB of VRAM with clock speeds of 1530 MHz to 1725 MHz, which enables this GPU to handle most of the games with ease and elegance while providing you with a decent gaming experience.
GTX 1650 Super’s affordability is one of its main advantages. It is also equipped with a 12nm process size, and with a total power requirement of 100W, the GPU performs very well for its price and power consumption. This GPU, paired with a Ryzen 5 5500, will give you excellent performance and experience while running your games at 1080p. It is a good choice for gamers who want the best gaming experience despite being wallet-friendly and low power consumption.
Some games have been benchmarked for this GPU, and the results are what you would expect. For example, while running “Battlefield V” on GTX 1650 Super, the average frame rates are 51 to 71 FPS while running the game at 1080p resolution and Ultra Settings. Moreover, for “Shadow of the Tomb Raider,” this GPU delivered 60 frames per second with the highest settings while running at 1080p. Also, for competitive games like “Rainbow Siege Six,” where performance is preferred, the 1650 Super can provide 108 frames per second while running at high settings and 1080p resolution.
GTX 1650 Super is a good GPU with excellent performance benchmarks, affordability, and low power requirements. It may struggle to run newer or more demanding titles because of its VRAM, but it can still perform well and run games smoothly, providing you with the best gaming experience. If you are unable to even afford a graphics card like this, it would be a good idea to consider buying Ryzen 5 5600G, as it comes with an integrated graphics card. Later, you can upgrade the graphics card, as these GPUs listed in the guide below are among the graphics cards for Ryzen 5 5600G.
Ryzen 5 5500 Benchmark
Now, coming to the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 benchmarks, you would be surprised to see that it holds pretty well against its Intel counterparts. Regarding the gaming performance of the processor, the Ryzen 5 5500 is powerful enough to be used for high-end gaming, whether you do 4K gaming or high-refresh-rate gaming. You will likely get around 200 FPS in competitive titles and over 120 FPS in demanding titles like Cyberpunk, Miles Morales, etc. You can check the detailed in-game benchmarks of the Ryzen 5 5500 here.
The above numbers are achievable only if you pair a high-end graphics card with the processor. You can even use the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 with the graphics card if you want, with ever so slightly bottleneck in some games like Hogwarts Legacy. The Call of Duty Warzone is another game that can have difficulties with the Ryzen 5 5500. The game has become increasingly CPU-bound with each update, leading to hiccups with even high-end processors like the Ryzen 7 5800X. In such cases, you will likely see low GPU usage using a high-end GPU like the RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT, although things will work well with most other games.
For 4K gaming, consider buying the RTX 3080 or the RX 6900 XT if you want future-proof gaming. 4K gaming heavily depends on the graphics card, and there is minimal CPU usage in games at such high resolution due to lower FPS compared to 1440P or 1080P resolution. With such high-end graphics cards, you are likely to experience GPU-bound scenarios all the time, which is an acceptable and desirable scenario in gaming. Even in the latest AAA games, you will get 60+ FPS at 4K resolution using Ultra Quality graphics settings with DLSS or FSR.
Regarding high-refresh-rate 1080P gaming, such as 280 Hz or 360 Hz, we advise buying a mid-range graphics card, as there would be diminishing returns with flagship graphics cards. With something like the NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, you can get minimal CPU bottleneck, leading to high FPS in games at 1080P resolution.
Final Words
Although all these graphics cards offer the best performance and have reasonable price tags, it depends on the budget and the user’s requirements. Some cards might be too expensive for a build with this processor, but overall, we’ve tried to pick the best GPU for the Ryzen 5 5500. Moreover, it is worth noting that a generational gap between the processor and GPU might lead to bottlenecking of the system. If you want, you can use the Bottleneck Calculator for your PC, as it will give you a rough idea of the compatibility between components of your system.
When a computer system bottlenecks while performing processor or GPU-intensive tasks, the system will not output its optimal performance. It will be capped by some percentage easily calculated on the online bottleneck calculator given above. If the bottleneck rate is higher than a specific value, it can be a very unpleasant experience.
After all, you have spent time and money building your computer, and no one wants to be frustrated over the hardware they have spent a reasonable amount of time and money on. Hence, considering this rationality, the GPUs that pair well with the Ryzen 5 5500 are ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC and ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6600. Both graphics cards offer high performance and can last a couple of years for 1080P gaming. Their compatibility with the processor in discussion is highly remarkable, and they will be very suitable for most games and other demanding tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ryzen 5 5500 good for gaming?
The cache and clock rates of the Ryzen 5 5500 are lower than the Ryzen 5 5600X, but it is still enough to be used with the latest NVIDIA RTX 4000-series graphics cards like the RTX 4070.
Similarly, it can be paired with AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, allowing you to play 1440P Ultra or 4K Ultra gaming with consistent FPS and minimal bottleneck.
What is Ryzen 5 5500 equivalent to Intel?
As AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a hexa-core processor, the lower single-core performance of the processor does not allow it to compete with the 13th-generation or even the 12th-generation Core i-series processors. The most competent processor by Intel for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is the Intel Core i5-11600K, as both processors provide a similar multi-core and single-core performance.
Does Ryzen 5500 need GPU?
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 does not feature an integrated graphics card, so you must use a dedicated graphics card for this processor. If you are low on budget and want to do budget gaming, consider buying AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA RTX 3060 by NVIDIA. If your budget is high enough, you can go for RTX 4070 or AMD RX 7900 XT.
What is the best GPU for Ryzen 5 5500?
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a capable processor that runs graphics cards like NVIDIA RTX 3060 efficiently. In fact, the unlocked hexa-core processor can be used with the latest high-end graphics cards like the RTX 4070 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT for 4K gaming, as 4K gaming does not put much load on the processor.
