Core i5-6500 vs Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
Core i5-6500
Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-6500 is positioned at rank 715 and the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is on rank 255, so the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6500
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-6500 | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($123) | ✅ More affordable ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-6500 | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+54%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($123) | ✅ More affordable ($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 Core i5-6500 and Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
Core i5-6500
The Core i5-6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,600 points. Launch price was $192.
Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 5,609 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-6500 and Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-6500 versus 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-6500 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i5-6500 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-6500 scores 5,600 against the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200's 5,609 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-6500 vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200.
| Feature | Core i5-6500 | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz+6% | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+3% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 5,600 | 5,609 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-6500 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-6500 | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-6500 launched at $239 MSRP, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 debuted at $109. At current prices ($123 vs $80), the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is $43 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-6500 delivers 45.5 pts/$ vs 70.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 — making the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 the 42.5% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-6500 | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $239 | $109-54% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $123 | $80-35% |
| Performance per Dollar | 45.5 | 70.1+54% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2017 |
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