Celeron J3160 vs Ryzen 5 3600
Celeron J3160
Ryzen 5 3600
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 Celeron J3160 is positioned at rank #485 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 Celeron J3160
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron J3160 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Airmont (2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron J3160 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 Celeron J3160 and Ryzen 5 3600
Celeron J3160
The Celeron J3160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Airmont (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,250 points. Launch price was $107.
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 Celeron J3160 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 2.24 GHz on the Celeron J3160 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 60.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Celeron J3160 uses the Airmont (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron J3160 scores 1,250 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 173.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 1,295, a 114.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 650 vs 1,898 (98% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron J3160 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.24 GHz | 4.2 GHz+87% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz+125% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Airmont (2016) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 1,250 | 17,685+1315% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | 1,295+270% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 650 | 1,898+192% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron J3160 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron J3160 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 28.6% 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 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Celeron J3160) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3160) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 24+500% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron J3160) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Celeron J3160 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 400), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3160 targets Low Power, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Celeron J3160 rivals Pentium J3710; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 400 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | Yes |
| Target Use | Low Power | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
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