EPYC 7402
Ryzen 5 3600
EPYC 7402 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum
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.
EPYC 7402 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
EPYC 7402 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.
EPYC 7402
2019Why buy it
- ✅+200.5% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
- ✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 24 cores / 48 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
- ✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($1,783 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
- ❌176.9% higher power demand at 180W vs 65W.
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.
Ryzen 5 3600
2019Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +5.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Costs $1,584 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 244.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 25.8 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $1,783 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 65W instead of 180W, a 115W reduction.
- ✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 7402.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 28,546).
- ❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 7402, which brings 24 cores / 48 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
Quick Answers
So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than EPYC 7402?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
EPYC 7402 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
EPYC 7402
The EPYC 7402 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 August 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 24 cores and 48 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.35 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 14 nm process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 180 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Eight-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 46,012 points. Launch price was $1,783.
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 EPYC 7402 packs 24 cores / 48 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 7402 has 18 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.35 GHz on the EPYC 7402 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 22.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The EPYC 7402 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (7 nm, 14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 7402 scores 46,012 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 88.9% lead for the EPYC 7402. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 28,546 vs 9,500 (100.1% advantage for the EPYC 7402). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,299 vs 1,295, a 0.3% lead for the EPYC 7402 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 12,622 vs 1,898 (147.7% advantage for the EPYC 7402). Both processors carry 32 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | EPYC 7402 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 24 / 48+300% | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 3.35 GHz | 4.2 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz+29% |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB (total) | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm |
| Architecture | Zen 2 (2017−2020) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 46,012+160% | 17,685 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 28,546+200% | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,299 | 1,295 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 12,622+565% | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The EPYC 7402 uses the SP3 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The EPYC 7402 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 3100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 8 (EPYC 7402) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 7402) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the EPYC 7402 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP3,Rome (EPYC 7402) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | EPYC 7402 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | SP3 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4096 GB+3100% | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 8+300% | 2 |
| ECC Support | Yes | No |
| PCIe Lanes | 128+433% | 24 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV, IOMMU (EPYC 7402) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: EPYC 7402 targets Server / Workstation, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: EPYC 7402 rivals Xeon Gold 6242; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | EPYC 7402 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V, SEV, IOMMU | Yes |
| Target Use | Server / Workstation | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
At launch, the EPYC 7402 was priced at $1783, while the Ryzen 5 3600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($1783 vs $199), Ryzen 5 3600 was $1584 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the EPYC 7402 delivers 25.8 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 110% better value option.
| Feature | EPYC 7402 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1783 | $199-89% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.8 | 88.9+245% |
| Release Date | 2019 | 2019 |
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