AMD Ryzen 9 5900 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests AMD Ryzen 9 5900 vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, programming, machine learning, rendering, video editing. Here is all information from different benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like Gears 5, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PCMark 10, VeraCrypt, Furmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, RealBench, Blender, AIDA64, WPrime, Handbrake, Dolphin Emulator, 3DMark, 7zip, Prime95, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, SuperPi, Blender, MATLAB.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or AMD Ryzen 9 5900.

Summary benchmark results

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

Ryzen 9 5900

62%

Ryzen 5 3600

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 9 5900 is 11% better than Ryzen 5 3600. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Ryzen 9 5900

59%

Ryzen 5 3600

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs 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 other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Control, League of Legends (LOL), Horizon Zero Dawn, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Metro Exodus, Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, Hitman 3, DOTA 2A, Forza Horizon 4, Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, NBA 2K20, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	103.8	94.7
Valorant	118.0	107.6
Cyberpunk 2077	66.1	60.3
Apex Legends	110.9	101.2
Call of Duty Warzone	88.5	80.7
Overwatch	95.6	87.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	81.4	74.3
DOOM Eternal	59.0	53.8
Warzone	92.0	83.9
Assassin's Creed	99.1	90.4
Valheim	97.9	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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K 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 9 5900

89%

Ryzen 5 3600

63%

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 9 5900 is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 3600 as it consumes less power: 65W vs. 65W. Power consumption is particularly 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

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 9 5900	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	285
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	3789	1578
Cinbench 20 Single-core	668	472
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	8653	3689
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1815	1253
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	23790	9412

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

	AMD Ryzen 9 5900	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Single-Core	3487	2611
Multi-Core	39560	17872

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

	AMD Ryzen 9 5900	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Single-Core	1743	1238
Multi-Core	15530	6578

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in the newest games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	AMD Ryzen 9 5900	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Announcement date	January 12, 2021	July 07, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	AM4	AM4
Core name	Vermeer	Matisse
Architecture	Zen 3	Zen 2
Generation	4	3
Turbo Frequency	4.7 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3 MHz	3.6 MHz
Cores	12	6
Threads	24	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	7 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	9400 millions	4200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4	DDR4
Max. Memory
Memory Frequency	3200	3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache		384KB
L2 cache	6MB	3MB
L3 cache	64MB	32MB
Overclocking	Yes	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	100-000000062	100-000000031 100-100000031BOX 100-100000031MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Ryzen 5 3600 is 16% better than Ryzen 9 5900 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 9 5900 has 6 more core than Ryzen 5 3600. 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 9 5900 is better: 30
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is better: 2
However, it should be realized that all the number in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900 specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 3600 specs and review.