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A4-3420 vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

A4-3420

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019
Ryzen family
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A4-3420 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

A4-3420
2 / 2
1,067
0.0%
brand logoAthlon 64 3600+
brand logoAthlon 64 FX-55
brand logoAthlon 64 X2 TK-42
brand logoAthlon II X2 250u
brand logoRyzen 5 PRO 5650G
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 3990X
Ryzen 5 3600
6 / 12
17,685
+1557.5%
brand logoRyzen 3 PRO 4450U
brand logoRyzen 3 5425U
brand logoRyzen 3 PRO 5350G
brand logoRyzen 7 2700
brand logoRyzen AI 9 HX 370
brand logoRyzen 9 8945HX
brand logoRyzen 9 9950X3D
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 9960X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

A4-3420 vs Ryzen 5 3600 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low200 FPS
medium161 FPS
high135 FPS
ultra106 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low442 FPS
medium404 FPS
high332 FPS
ultra295 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low442 FPS
medium442 FPS
high442 FPS
ultra442 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low442 FPS
medium442 FPS
high442 FPS
ultra442 FPS
Among Us

Among Us

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low300 FPS
medium263 FPS
high234 FPS
ultra205 FPS
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low273 FPS
medium204 FPS
high173 FPS
ultra150 FPS
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low171 FPS
medium149 FPS
high121 FPS
ultra99 FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low349 FPS
medium300 FPS
high258 FPS
ultra220 FPS
Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone

1080P
A4-3420
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 3600
low236 FPS
medium218 FPS
high183 FPS
ultra172 FPS
Check FPS with Custom Builds

A4-3420 vs Ryzen 5 3600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A4-3420

2011

Why buy it

  • ✅Costs $134 less on MSRP ($65 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
  • ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6410D, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (500 vs 1,898).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 16.4 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($65 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

  • ✅Better for gaming: +658.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ✅Delivers 441.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 16.4 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $65 MSRP).
  • ✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌
    206.2% HIGHER MSRP
    $199 MSRPvs$65 MSRP
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while A4-3420 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than A4-3420?
Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 658.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 279.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 1557.5% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 658.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 279.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 3600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 3600 comes in 206.2% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $65 MSRP, and it still gives you a 658.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 441.4% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 16.4 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A4-3420 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

A4-3420

The A4-3420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,067 points. Launch price was $50.

AMD

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

⚡

Processing Power

The A4-3420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the A4-3420 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 40% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The A4-3420 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the A4-3420 scores 1,067 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 177.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 1,295, a 124.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 1,898 (116.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). L3 cache: 0 kB on the A4-3420 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

FeatureA4-3420Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock
2.8 GHz
4.2 GHz+50%
Base Clock
2.8 GHz
3.6 GHz+29%
L3 Cache
0 kB
32 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
512K (per core)
Process
32 nm
7 nm, 12 nm-78%
Architecture
Llano (2011−2012)
Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark
1,067
17,685+1557%
Cinebench R23 Multi
—
9,500
Geekbench 6 Single
300
1,295+332%
Geekbench 6 Multi
500
1,898+280%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A4-3420 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the A4-3420 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A4-3420) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X (A4-3420) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

FeatureA4-3420Ryzen 5 3600
Socket
FM1
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1600
DDR4-3200+100%
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB
128 GB+300%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16
24+50%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A4-3420) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The A4-3420 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6410D), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-3420 targets Entry Desktop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: A4-3420 rivals Pentium G630; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

FeatureA4-3420Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 6410D
—
Unlocked
No
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Yes
Target Use
Entry Desktop
Gaming/Budget Workstation
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A4-3420 was priced at $65, while the Ryzen 5 3600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($65 vs $199), A4-3420 was $134 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A4-3420 delivers 16.4 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 137.6% better value option.

FeatureA4-3420Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP
$65-67%
$199
Performance per Dollar
16.4
88.9+442%
Release Date
2011
2019
Search A4-3420 on AmazonSearch Ryzen 5 3600 on Amazon

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