AMD Ryzen 3 1200 vs AMD Ryzen 5 1600

Processor comparisons   31-01-2023
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 vs AMD Ryzen 5 1600 tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for streaming, programming, video editing, machine learning, rendering. Here is useful information from various benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in special testing software like PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, MATLAB, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), SuperPi, Blender, Blender, Prime95, Gears 5, WPrime, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, PassMark, Handbrake, RealBench, 3DMark.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

DOOM: Eternal
Fallout 76
Red Dead Redemption 2
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Fortnite
Cyberpunk 2077
Apex Legends
Rainbow Six Siege
Death Stranding
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Borderlands 3
Halo Infinite
Valheim
Watch Dogs Legion
Last Man Standing
Valorant
Overwatch
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Grand Theft Auto V

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Ryzen 3 1200

51%

Ryzen 5 1600

53%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 1600 is 3% better than Ryzen 3 1200. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 3 1200

52%

Ryzen 5 1600

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Forza Horizon 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), NBA 2K20.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.9	93.8
Valorant	104.4	106.6
Cyberpunk 2077	58.5	59.7
Apex Legends	98.2	100.2
Call of Duty Warzone	78.3	79.9
Overwatch	84.6	86.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.1	73.6
DOOM Eternal	52.2	53.3
Warzone	81.5	83.1
Assassin's Creed	87.7	89.5
Valheim	86.7	88.5

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen 3 1200

55%

Ryzen 5 1600

47%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Ryzen 3 1200 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 1600 since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor includes all cores and threads that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen 3 1200	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	129	147
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	477	1094
Cinbench 20 Single-core	333	357
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1191	2501
Cinbench 23 Single-core	885	900
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3368	6230

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen 3 1200	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Single-Core	1894	2063
Multi-Core	6325	12340

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	AMD Ryzen 3 1200	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Single-Core	1083	932
Multi-Core	3839	5690

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen 3 1200	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Announcement date	July 27, 2017	April 11, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	AM4
Core name	Summit Ridge	Summit Ridge
Architecture	Zen	Zen
Generation	1	2
Turbo Frequency	3.4 MHz	3.6 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	4	6
Threads	4	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography		14 nm
Transistors count	3600 millions	2800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	2667	2667
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache		576KB
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache		16MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	YD1200BBM4KAE	YD1600BBM6IAE YD1600BBAEBOX YD1600BBAEMPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 1600 is 3% better than Ryzen 3 1200 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 5 1600 has 2 more core than Ryzen 3 1200. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 3 1200 is better: 4
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is better: 28
However, it should be realized that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought AMD Ryzen 3 1200 and AMD Ryzen 5 1600 before making a decision which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

AMD Ryzen 3 1200 - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• AMD Ryzen 3 1200 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 1600 specs and review.