Athlon 64 3800+ vs Ryzen 5 5600X
Athlon 64 3800+
Popular choices:
Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Athlon 64 3800+ is positioned at rank #1106 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 3800+
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 3800+ | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Venice (2004−2005) / 130 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 3800+ | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+150%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 64 3800+ and Ryzen 5 5600X
Athlon 64 3800+
The Athlon 64 3800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Junho 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the Venice (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 648 points. Launch price was $160.
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 3800+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600X has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3800+ versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X — a 62.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X. The Athlon 64 3800+ uses the Venice (2004−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3800+ scores 648 against the Ryzen 5 5600X's 21,845 — a 188.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 3800+ vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3800+ | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 6 / 12+500% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4.6 GHz+92% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 130 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-95% |
| Architecture | Venice (2004−2005) | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 648 | 21,845+3271% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 3800+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Ryzen 5 5600X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 3800+ versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600X — the Ryzen 5 5600X supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3800+) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600X) — the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 3800+) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 5 5600X).
| Feature | Athlon 64 3800+ | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 939 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 4.0+264% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR4-3200+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 128 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 3800+) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3800+ | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 3800+ launched at $354 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600X debuted at $299. At current prices ($10 vs $135), the Athlon 64 3800+ is $125 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 3800+ delivers 64.8 pts/$ vs 161.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600X — making the Ryzen 5 5600X the 85.6% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3800+ | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $354 | $299-16% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-93% | $135 |
| Performance per Dollar | 64.8 | 161.8+150% |
| Release Date | 2004 | 2020 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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