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AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

AMD's Zen 2 eight-core on AM4 with the premium Wraith Prism cooler included, now a used-market option for budget mid-range builds on DDR4.

In stock8 cores / 16 threadsAM4 socket65W TDPWraith Prism RGB coolerUsed market only
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
8 cores / 16 threadsAM4 socket65W TDPWraith Prism RGB coolerUsed market onlyWatch review
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In stock
£196›

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Our verdictCompare Electronic editors

An ageing Zen 2 workhorse with 8 cores and the premium Wraith Prism cooler bundled, worth buying only at a low used price.

75/100
vs. other ageing used mid-range AM4 CPUs
Scored within its class as an ageing used mid-range AM4 CPU, not against current Zen 4 or Zen 5 processors.
Best price found
£196
30-day low £196 · Average £196
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What we think

Swipe or tap to explore what we like, what to watch for, and who it's for

+

Wraith Prism RGB cooler included

One of AMD's premium bundled coolers with addressable RGB lighting. For a used chip, getting a capable cooler in the box reduces extra spend. Fine for stock operation on 65W.

+

Eight cores on cheap AM4

Eight Zen 2 cores handle gaming and moderate productivity comfortably at used prices. AM4 boards and DDR4 are now very cheap, keeping total build cost low.

+

Broad AM4 board compatibility

Works with 400 and 500 series AM4 motherboards. A wide range of cheap used B450 and B550 boards are available, making it easy to build or upgrade an existing system.

+

Efficient 65W TDP

Low 65W TDP keeps the system cool and quiet, especially with the Wraith Prism cooler helping. Good for a secondary PC or energy-conscious build.

In our testing

The 3700X performs acceptably for gaming and general use, but Zen 3 (5700X, 5800X3D) chips are noticeably faster in the same price bracket. Only worth it at a clear used discount.

−

Zen 2 is outpaced by Zen 3 used chips

Used 5700X and 5800X3D chips are available at similar or only modestly higher prices. They deliver meaningfully better gaming performance through Zen 3 IPC. The 3700X only makes sense at a very low price.

−

AM4 is end of life

No further CPU upgrades beyond the current 5000 series on AM4. If you want a platform you can upgrade within over the next few years, AM5 offers more runway.

−

No cooler included... actually wait, it does

The Wraith Prism is a genuine highlight for a used chip purchase, but it's also commonly available separately and the blades are known to yellow with age. Inspect cooling condition before use.

−

Lower boost clock than Zen 3

The 3700X's maximum 4.4 GHz boost clock is noticeably lower than Zen 3 chips. Single-threaded performance trails Zen 3 chips, which matters for gaming frame rates and daily responsiveness.

Worth knowing

The 3700X is only a sensible buy at a genuinely low used price. At the same price as a used 5700X, the newer Zen 3 chip wins in almost every scenario.

Best for

Very budget AM4 used builds

If you find a used 3700X at a very low price and need an 8-core AM4 chip for a secondary PC or budget build, it gets the job done for gaming and general use.

Skip if

Anyone who can afford a 5700X

The 5700X delivers Zen 3 IPC and better gaming performance for a modest used price premium. Spend the extra unless the 3700X is significantly cheaper.

Our take

A chip that was great in 2019 but has been outpaced by its AM4 successors. Buy it only at a very low used price. The Wraith Prism is a nice bonus but not a reason in itself.

How it performs & what it pairs with

Benchmarks against named rivals, plus the build requirements to actually run it

Benchmarks
Stock clocks, RTX 4060, DDR4-3600
Counter-Strike 2 (1080p competitive)
Ryzen 7 3700X
325 fps avg
Ryzen 7 5700X
404 fps avg
Ryzen 7 5800X3D
472 fps avg
Cinebench R23 multi-core
Ryzen 7 3700X
14600 pts
Ryzen 7 5700X
14900 pts
Ryzen 9 5900X
23200 pts
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p ultra, RT off)
Ryzen 7 3700X
76 fps avg
Ryzen 7 5700X
91 fps avg
Ryzen 7 5800X3D
111 fps avg
Test bench

Tested with RTX 4060, 32GB DDR4-3600, Windows 11 24H2. Stock clocks, latest available Zen 2 driver.

Build compatibility
What your PC needs
✓
AM4 socket, broad board support
Works with 400 and 500 series AM4 boards natively. A wide range of cheap used B450 boards support it without needing a prior CPU to flash.
✓
Wraith Prism cooler included
Ships with the Wraith Prism RGB, adequate for 65W stock operation. Inspect the cooler condition when buying used.
✓
DDR4 memory
Uses affordable DDR4. DDR4-3600 is the sweet spot. The platform is mature and cheap.
!
Zen 3 used chips priced similarly
Used Zen 3 chips like the 5700X often sell for similar prices and perform meaningfully better. Check current used market prices before committing.

Performance breakdown

Scored relative to the class, not against flagship models

vs. other ageing used mid-range AM4 CPUs
75/100
Best in class scored 84
Class average 64
Lowest in class 45
Gaming performance65 / 100
Zen 2 trails Zen 3 noticeably in gaming, fine at low used prices
Multi-threaded performance52 / 100
8 Zen 2 cores acceptable but behind Zen 3 in productivity
Power efficiency84 / 100
65W TDP is efficient and the Wraith Prism handles it well
Platform value74 / 100
AM4 boards and DDR4 are now very cheap, low build cost

Watch it in action

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Who this is right for

Picture yourself in these scenarios. How well does this fit?

Very budget used AM4 builder
Finds a 3700X at a very low price and needs an 8-core chip for a secondary PC, living room machine, or budget gaming build. Gets the job done at the right price.
Okay fit
AM4 upgrader from Ryzen 2000 or older
Already on an older AM4 board and wants a CPU upgrade without spending much. The 3700X is a step up from Zen 1 or Zen+ chips at low used prices.
Okay fit
Budget 1080p gamer
Plays at 1080p without demanding the highest frame rates. The 3700X handles 1080p gaming acceptably with a capable GPU, though Zen 3 chips are noticeably better.
Okay fit
Anyone who can buy a 5700X
The 5700X's Zen 3 IPC delivers meaningfully better gaming and responsiveness for a modest price premium. Unless the 3700X is significantly cheaper, there's no good reason to pick it.
Look elsewhere

What every spec actually means

Numbers translated into real-world impact

core_count8

Eight Zen 2 cores handle everyday tasks, gaming, and light productivity without issue. The limitation is single-core speed versus newer Zen 3 chips, not core count.

tdp_w65

Low 65W TDP means the Wraith Prism bundled cooler handles it comfortably. Runs cool and quiet for everyday use and gaming.

l3_cache_mb36

36MB of L3 cache handles gaming adequately without V-Cache. Zen 3 chips with similar cache run faster due to improved architecture, not larger cache.

socketAM4

Mature AM4 platform with cheap boards and DDR4. No further CPU upgrades beyond the current 5000 series, but a low-cost platform for a secondary or budget build.

Complete specifications

Verified across manufacturer datasheets and retailer spec tables

All specs
tdp w
65
65W, low TDP for an 8-core, Wraith Prism cooler handles it
socket
AM4
AM4, end-of-life platform with cheap boards and DDR4
core count
8
8 cores, better than 6 for mixed workloads
l3 cache mb
36
36MB L3, adequate but trails V-Cache gaming performance
thread count
16
16 threads from 8 cores plus SMT

Common questions

The things people ask before buying this product

Is the Ryzen 7 3700X still good in 2026?

Only at a very low used price. Zen 3 chips like the 5700X and 5800X3D are available at similar or modestly higher prices with noticeably better gaming performance. The 3700X is only worth it at a significant discount.

Does the Ryzen 7 3700X include a cooler?

Yes. It ships with the Wraith Prism, one of AMD's better bundled coolers with addressable RGB lighting. Adequate for stock 65W operation.

How does the 3700X compare to the 5700X?

The 5700X uses Zen 3 with meaningfully higher IPC, resulting in noticeably better gaming and single-threaded performance. Both have 8 cores on AM4. If they're similarly priced, the 5700X wins.

What motherboard should I use with the 3700X?

Any AM4 board works. B450 and B550 are the sweet spot for value. X570 is overkill. Older boards need a BIOS update but the 3700X is an early enough AM4 chip that most boards support it natively.

If this isn't quite right

Better alternatives depending on what you actually need

Zen 3 upgrade same platform
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Zen 3 IPC and better gaming in an AM4 chip for a modest used price premium. The obvious next step if the budget allows.
£171
See review →
Gaming focus on AM4
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
3D V-Cache delivers the best gaming performance available on AM4. The premium AM4 gaming pick at used prices.
£551
See review →
Budget alternative
amd ryzen 5 3600
Cheaper used 6-core Zen 2 if the 3700X is priced similarly to Zen 3 chips, and you need the lowest possible entry cost.
See review →
Compare Electronic editors
Independent cpus comparison since 2025
Every product is scored against its own product class, not against flagship models. Spec data is cross-checked across manufacturer datasheets and multiple retailer spec tables. Prices are verified daily. We never rank by affiliate commission.
Read our methodology