Athlon 5370 vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPU

GPU

Athlon 5370

4 Cores4 Thrd25 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2014

Similar parts

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Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019

Ryzen family

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Athlon 5370 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 5370

4 / 4

1,906

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen 5 3600

6 / 12

17,685

+827.9%

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 5370 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.

Athlon 5370 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.

Athlon 5370

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $144 less on MSRP ($55 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 65W, a 40W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R3, 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 (636 vs 1,898).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 34.7 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($55 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +340.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 156.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 34.7 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $55 MSRP).
✅500% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
261.8% HIGHER MSRP
$199 MSRPvs$55 MSRP
❌160% higher power demand at 65W vs 25W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon 5370 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Athlon 5370?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 340.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 198.4% better Geekbench multi-core, 827.9% 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 340.1% 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 198.4% 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 261.8% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $55 MSRP, and it still gives you a 340.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 156.4% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 34.7 PassMark/$), 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 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 5370 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 5370

The Athlon 5370 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,906 points. Launch price was $149.

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.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 5370 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon 5370 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 62.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon 5370 uses the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture (28 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 5370 scores 1,906 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 161.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 247 vs 1,295, a 135.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 636 vs 1,898 (99.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Athlon 5370	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	2.2 GHz	4.2 GHz+91%
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.6 GHz+64%
L3 Cache	—	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2048 kB+300%	512K (per core)
Process	28 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-75%
Architecture	Kabini (2013−2014)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	1,906	17,685+828%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	247	1,295+424%
Geekbench 6 Multi	636	1,898+198%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 5370 uses the AM1 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 Athlon 5370 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 16 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Athlon 5370) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600). PCIe lanes: 4 (Athlon 5370) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM1,A50M (Athlon 5370) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Athlon 5370	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	AM1	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	DDR4-3200+100%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	4	24+500%

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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 (Athlon 5370) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Athlon 5370 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 5370 targets Budget, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Athlon 5370	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon R3	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	Yes
Target Use	Budget	Gaming/Budget Workstation

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 5370 was priced at $55, while the Ryzen 5 3600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($55 vs $199), Athlon 5370 was $144 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 5370 delivers 34.7 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 87.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 5370	Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP	$55-72%	$199
Performance per Dollar	34.7	88.9+156%
Release Date	2014	2019

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