Athlon 220GE vs Ryzen 5 5600

CPU

GPU

Athlon 220GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2018

Similar parts

·······

Buy on Amazon

Ryzen 5 5600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022

Ryzen family

·······

Buy on Amazon

Athlon 220GE vs Ryzen 5 5600 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 220GE

2 / 4

4,441

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

Ryzen 5 5600

6 / 12

21,550

+385.3%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen 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.

Athlon 220GE vs Ryzen 5 5600 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.

Athlon 220GE vs Ryzen 5 5600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 220GE

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $134 less on MSRP ($65 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 3, while Ryzen 5 5600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (2,023 vs 8,600).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.3 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($65 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +148.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
✅Delivers 58.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 68.3 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $65 MSRP).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Athlon 220GE.

Trade-offs

❌
206.2% HIGHER MSRP
$199 MSRPvs$65 MSRP
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon 220GE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600 better than Athlon 220GE?

Yes. Ryzen 5 5600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 148.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 325.1% better Geekbench multi-core, 385.3% 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 5600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 148.4% 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 5600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 325.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 5 5600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5600 comes in 206.2% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $65 MSRP, and it still gives you a 148.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 58.5% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 68.3 PassMark/$), 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 5600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), 700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 220GE vs Ryzen 5 5600 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 220GE

The Athlon 220GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,441 points. Launch price was $65.

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon 220GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon 220GE versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 25.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Athlon 220GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 220GE scores 4,441 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 131.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 886 vs 2,052, a 79.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,023 vs 8,600 (123.8% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon 220GE vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Ryzen 5 5600
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	4.4 GHz+29%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.5 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+700%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	14 nm	7 nm-50%
Architecture	Zen (2017−2020)	Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark	4,441	21,550+385%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	11,077
Geekbench 6 Single	886	2,052+132%
Geekbench 6 Multi	2,023	8,600+325%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2667 on the Athlon 220GE versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 — the Ryzen 5 5600 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 220GE) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) — the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Athlon 220GE) and B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600).

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Ryzen 5 5600
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2667	DDR4-3200+20%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	8	24+200%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Athlon 220GE includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 3), while the Ryzen 5 5600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 220GE targets Desktop, Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon 220GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Ryzen 5 5600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon Vega 3	—
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 220GE was priced at $65, while the Ryzen 5 5600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($65 vs $199), Athlon 220GE was $134 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 220GE delivers 68.3 pts/$ vs 108.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 45.3% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 220GE	Ryzen 5 5600
MSRP	$65-67%	$199
Performance per Dollar	68.3	108.3+59%
Release Date	2018	2022

Search Athlon 220GE on Amazon

Search Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.