AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs AMD Ryzen 7 3800X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs AMD Ryzen 7 3800X and see which is better for games or simple use for streaming, machine learning, video editing, programming, rendering. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like SuperPi, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, UserBenchmark, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, 7zip, PCMark 10, MATLAB, AIDA64, 3DMark, RealBench, Blender, Prime95, Gears 5, PassMark.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 7 3800X or AMD Ryzen 5 2600.

Summary benchmark results

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

Ryzen 5 2600

54%

Ryzen 7 3800X

57%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 7 3800X is 5% better than Ryzen 5 2600. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 5 2600

53%

Ryzen 7 3800X

56%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will play 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 small game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: NBA 2K20, Hitman 3, Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Control, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL), Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, Metro Exodus, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	94.8	98.9
Valorant	107.8	112.4
Cyberpunk 2077	60.4	62.9
Apex Legends	101.3	105.6
Call of Duty Warzone	80.8	84.3
Overwatch	87.3	91.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	74.4	77.5
DOOM Eternal	53.9	56.2
Warzone	84.1	87.7
Assassin's Creed	90.5	94.4
Valheim	89.5	93.3

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 computers participating in the comparing not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, 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 5 2600

56%

Ryzen 7 3800X

44%

To make a final decision 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 5 2600 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 7 3800X since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 105W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores 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 can use only one core to work, 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 5 2600	AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	164	209
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1310	2165
Cinbench 20 Single-core	374	509
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	2736	4960
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1024	1325
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	7220	12874

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

	AMD Ryzen 5 2600	AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
Single-Core	2280	2773
Multi-Core	13255	23436

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

	AMD Ryzen 5 2600	AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
Single-Core	1104	1393
Multi-Core	6712	10679

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. 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 can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen 5 2600	AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
Announcement date	April 19, 2018	July 07, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	AM4
Core name	Pinnacle Ridge	Matisse
Architecture	Zen+	Zen 2
Generation	2	3
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	4.5 MHz
Frequency	3.4 MHz	3.9 MHz
Cores	6	8
Threads	12	16
Bus rate	4 Ã— 8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	12 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	3600 millions	4600 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	105 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	2933	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache	576KB	512KB
L2 cache	3MB	4MB
L3 cache	16MB	32MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	YD2600BBM6IAF YD2600BBAFBOX YD2600BBAFMPK	100-000000025 100-100000025BOX 100-100000025MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 7 3800X is 12% better than Ryzen 5 2600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 7 3800X has 2 more core than Ryzen 5 2600. 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 5 2600 is better: 3
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 7 3800X is better: 32
Although it should be realized that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of of people who bought AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and AMD Ryzen 7 3800X before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen 5 2600 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 7 3800X specs and review.