AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X tests and see which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming, rendering. Here you can find all information from real video editing and streaming tests or many benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, Blender, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Gears 5, MATLAB, UserBenchmark, AIDA64, SuperPi, PassMark, RealBench, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, VeraCrypt, Blender, Furmark, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PCMark 10, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X.

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 5600X

56%

Ryzen 5 3600X

55%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 5600X is 1% better than Ryzen 5 3600X. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 5 5600X

55%

Ryzen 5 3600X

54%

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 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 low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: DOTA 2A, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, Monster Hunter World, League of Legends (LOL), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Control, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Half-Life: Alyx.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.1	96.0
Valorant	110.4	109.1
Cyberpunk 2077	61.8	61.1
Apex Legends	103.8	102.6
Call of Duty Warzone	82.8	81.9
Overwatch	89.4	88.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.2	75.3
DOOM Eternal	55.2	54.6
Warzone	86.1	85.1
Assassin's Creed	92.7	91.7
Valheim	91.6	90.6

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. So 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Ryzen 5 5600X

90%

Ryzen 5 3600X

47%

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 5600X is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 3600X since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 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 5600X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	258	204
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1970	1647
Cinbench 20 Single-core	604	501
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	4562	3751
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1572	1286
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	11268	9588

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

	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Single-Core	3352	2651
Multi-Core	22120	18377

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

	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Single-Core	1768	1341
Multi-Core	8968	7891

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	AMD Ryzen 5 5600X	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Announcement date	November 05, 2020	July 07, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	AM4
Core name	Vermeer	Matisse
Architecture	Zen 3	Zen 2
Generation	5	3
Turbo Frequency	4.6 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.7 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	6	6
Threads	12	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	4800 millions	4200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache		384KB
L2 cache	3MB	3MB
L3 cache	32MB	32MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000065 100-100000065BOX 100-100000065MPK	100-000000022 100-100000022BOX 100-100000022MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 3600X is 2% better than Ryzen 5 5600X in terms of CPU frequency. 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 5600X is better: 26
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is better: 2
However, it should be realized that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen 5 5600X specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 3600X specs and review.