Athlon Gold 7220U vs Ryzen 5 3600

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 Gold 7220U 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 Gold 7220U 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 Gold 7220U

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 44 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (4,904 vs 17,685).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +140.8% higher average FPS across 44 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
✅500% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon Gold 7220U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Athlon Gold 7220U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Athlon Gold 7220U moves to FT6 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Athlon Gold 7220U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Athlon Gold 7220U?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 140.8% average FPS lead across 44 shared CPU game tests in our data and 260.6% better PassMark, 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 140.8% more average FPS across 44 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 260.6% better PassMark, 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 3600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 3600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 140.8% average FPS lead across 44 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon Gold 7220U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FT6 and DDR5 instead of AM4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Athlon Gold 7220U vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon Gold 7220U

The Athlon Gold 7220U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,904 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 Gold 7220U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Gold 7220U scores 4,904 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 113.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Athlon Gold 7220U vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Athlon Gold 7220U	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	4.2 GHz+14%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.6 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+700%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	6 nm-14%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	4,904	17,685+261%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,295
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,898

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon Gold 7220U uses the FT6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 5500 on the Athlon Gold 7220U versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Athlon Gold 7220U supports 71.9% 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. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT6 (Athlon Gold 7220U) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Athlon Gold 7220U	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	FT6	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	5500+72%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
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: true (Athlon Gold 7220U) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Athlon Gold 7220U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Athlon Gold 7220U rivals Core i3-1115G4; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.