The 3700u vs 5500u question has a clear answer: the Ryzen 5 5500U is the stronger chip, despite wearing a lower tier name. It carries six cores and twelve threads against four and eight on the Ryzen 7 3700U, and it comes from a newer design, so it wins most multi-core work.

Quick Answer

Choose the Ryzen 5 5500U. Generation and core count beat the Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 label here, so the 5500U finishes exports, many-tab browsing and background tasks faster. The cheapest new laptop is about R8,000, and at that level a newer generation is worth more than a used older chip. The laptop around the processor, especially cooling and RAM setup, changes what you feel.

🔢 Cores and Threads Side by Side

The 3700U has four cores and eight threads. The 5500U has six cores and twelve threads. In practice that means the newer chip keeps more jobs moving at once: a video export, a browser full of tabs and a music app can all run without one starving the others.

The 5500U also belongs to a later design generation, which usually brings better efficiency per watt. That helps a thin laptop hold its speed for longer before the fans have to push hard.

Browse AMD Ryzen 5 laptops to see how machines with this class of chip are set up.

🎮 Graphics and Light Gaming

Both processors use Radeon graphics built into the chip, with no separate graphics card. That is fine for esports titles at low settings, schoolwork and streaming video, but not for demanding games. The older 3700U's graphics unit has more compute units on paper, yet both are limited by shared system memory, so the practical gap is small.

If gaming matters, look for a laptop with a discrete graphics card rather than leaning on either chip.

🧰 The Laptop Matters More Than the Name

Single-channel memory halves the bandwidth that built-in graphics can use, so a laptop with one RAM stick can feel slower than the processor suggests. Look for dual-channel memory and an SSD. Cooling matters too: a well-cooled machine with the older chip can feel close to a cramped one with the newer chip during short tasks.

In warm Gauteng weather, a hard flat surface under the laptop helps, because soft surfaces block the vents. Neither chip can be upgraded later, since both are soldered to the board.

For comparison with desktop-class options, the AMD processor range shows how core counts scale across the product line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ryzen 7 3700U faster because it is a Ryzen 7?

Not here. Generation and core count matter more than tier name, and the 5500U has more cores and a newer design.

How do the core counts differ?

The 3700U has four cores and eight threads, the 5500U six and twelve. Extra cores help video exports, tabs and background apps.

Do either of these chips game well?

Both use built-in Radeon graphics, fine for esports at low settings. Demanding games need a laptop with a separate graphics card.

Can I upgrade the processor later?

No, it is soldered on. Plan RAM and storage upgrades instead, where the model allows them.

What else decides how the laptop feels day to day?

Dual-channel RAM, an SSD and good cooling all matter. They can narrow the gap between the two chips in short tasks.

Is a used 3700U laptop worth it in South Africa?

Only at a clear discount, since the cheapest new laptop is about R8,000 and brings a newer generation. Check battery health and the drive first.

Ready to pick a laptop with the right Ryzen inside? Look through the Ryzen 5 laptop category at Evetech and compare cores, memory setup and cooling before you decide.