AMD Ryzen 3 3100 vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the comprehensive tests AMD Ryzen 3 3100 vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600X and decide which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, programming, streaming, rendering, video editing. Here is useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, VeraCrypt, PassMark, PCMark 10, Gears 5, Dolphin Emulator, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, Blender, 7zip, RealBench, Furmark, AIDA64, Handbrake, Prime95, WPrime, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), MATLAB, Blender.
   And how good the CPUs are in games:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or AMD Ryzen 3 3100.

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 3100

53%

Ryzen 5 2600X

54%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 2600X is 1% better than Ryzen 3 3100. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 3 3100

53%

Ryzen 5 2600X

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), League of Legends (LOL), Control, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	93.7	94.6
Valorant	106.5	107.5
Cyberpunk 2077	59.6	60.2
Apex Legends	100.1	101.1
Call of Duty Warzone	79.8	80.6
Overwatch	86.2	87.1
Red Dead Redemption 2	73.5	74.2
DOOM Eternal	53.2	53.8
Warzone	83.0	83.9
Assassin's Creed	89.4	90.3
Valheim	88.4	89.3

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 tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 3100

64%

Ryzen 5 2600X

39%

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 3100 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 2600X as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	AMD Ryzen 3 3100	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	179	176
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1019	1380
Cinbench 20 Single-core	437	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2351	3048
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1105	1074
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	5423	7514

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

	AMD Ryzen 3 3100	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Single-Core	2464	2438
Multi-Core	11783	14033

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

	AMD Ryzen 3 3100	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Single-Core	1266	1127
Multi-Core	5567	6497

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. 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. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen 3 3100	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Announcement date	May 27, 2020	April 19, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	AM4
Core name	Matisse	Pinnacle Ridge
Architecture	Zen 2	Zen
Generation	3	2
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	4	6
Threads	8	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	3800 millions	3600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200	2933
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	256KB	576KB
L2 cache	2MB	3MB
L3 cache	16MB	16MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000284 100-100000284BOX 100-100000284MPK	YD260XBCM6IAF YD260XBCAFBOX YD260XBCAFMPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Another difference is that Ryzen 5 2600X has 2 more core than Ryzen 3 3100. 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 3100 is better: 11
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 2600X is better: 21
Although it should be realized that the summary data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and AMD Ryzen 5 2600X before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• AMD Ryzen 3 3100 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 2600X specs and review.