Core i7-10870H vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPU

GPU

Core i7-10870H

8 Cores16 Thrd45 WWMax: 4.8 GHz2020

Core family

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Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019

Ryzen family

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Core i7-10870H vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-10870H

8 / 16

14,087

0.0%

17,685

+25.5%

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.

Core i7-10870H 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.

Core i7-10870H 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.

Core i7-10870H

2020

Why buy it

✅+1% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (1,228 vs 1,295).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 33.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($417 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅+5.5% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $218 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
✅Delivers 163.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 33.8 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $417 MSRP).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 9,594).
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-10870H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-10870H better than Ryzen 5 3600?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 3600 is ahead with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-10870H pulls ahead with 1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 3600 also has the bigger cache pool with 166.7% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-10870H is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-10870H is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Core i7-10870H comes in 109.5% more expensive on MSRP at $417 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you 1% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The compromise is that Ryzen 5 3600 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 163.1% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 33.8 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Core i7-10870H makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-10870H vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-10870H

The Core i7-10870H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 September 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,087 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 Core i7-10870H packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-10870H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-10870H versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-10870H (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-10870H uses the Comet Lake-H (2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-10870H scores 14,087 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 22.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,594 vs 9,500 (1% advantage for the Core i7-10870H). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,228 vs 1,295, a 5.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,822 vs 1,898 (112.9% advantage for the Core i7-10870H). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-10870H vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Core i7-10870H	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz+14%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.6 GHz+64%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+167%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Comet Lake-H (2020)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	14,087	17,685+26%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,594	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,228	1,295+5%
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,822+259%	1,898

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-10870H uses the BGA1440 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 DDR4-2933 on the Core i7-10870H versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 9.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i7-10870H) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: WM490,HM470,QM480 (Core i7-10870H) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Core i7-10870H	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	BGA1440	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2933	DDR4-3200+9%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

🔧

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, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-10870H) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Core i7-10870H includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-10870H targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Core i7-10870H rivals Ryzen 7 4800H; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Core i7-10870H	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	Yes
Target Use	Gaming	Gaming/Budget Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Core i7-10870H was priced at $417, while the Ryzen 5 3600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($417 vs $199), Ryzen 5 3600 was $218 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-10870H delivers 33.8 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 89.8% better value option.

Feature	Core i7-10870H	Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP	$417	$199-52%
Performance per Dollar	33.8	88.9+163%
Release Date	2020	2019

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