EPYC 9015 vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPU

GPU

EPYC 9015

8 Cores16 Thrd125 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2024

EPYC family

·······

Buy on Amazon

Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019

Buy on Amazon

EPYC 9015 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

EPYC 9015

8 / 16

30,505

+72.5%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Ryzen 5 3600

6 / 12

17,685

0.0%

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.

EPYC 9015 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.

EPYC 9015 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 9015

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 8 cores / 16 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅Newer platform on SP5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike EPYC 9015.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than EPYC 9015 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 15,000).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 9015, which brings 8 cores / 16 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while EPYC 9015 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 9015 better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. EPYC 9015 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 3600 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 9015 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 9015 is the stronger fit. You are getting 57.9% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

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

EPYC 9015 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. EPYC 9015 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

EPYC 9015 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019), a healthier platform with SP5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB), more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12, and AVX-512 support for heavier modern compute workloads. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

EPYC 9015 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

EPYC 9015

The EPYC 9015 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 10 October 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Turin (2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: SP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 30,505 points. Launch price was $527.

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 9015 packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the EPYC 9015 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the EPYC 9015 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The EPYC 9015 uses the Turin (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the EPYC 9015 scores 30,505 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 53.2% lead for the EPYC 9015. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 15,000 vs 9,500 (44.9% advantage for the EPYC 9015). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,400 vs 1,295, a 7.8% lead for the EPYC 9015 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 11,000 vs 1,898 (141.1% advantage for the EPYC 9015). L3 cache: 64 MB (total) on the EPYC 9015 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	EPYC 9015	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz	4.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	64 MB (total)+100%	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	4 nm-43%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Turin (2024)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	30,505+72%	17,685
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,000+58%	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	1,400+8%	1,295
Geekbench 6 Multi	11,000+480%	1,898

🧠

Memory & Platform

The EPYC 9015 uses the SP5 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-6000 on the EPYC 9015 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the EPYC 9015 supports 87.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 9015 supports up to 4096 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 3100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 12 (EPYC 9015) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600). PCIe lanes: 128 (EPYC 9015) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the EPYC 9015 offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SP5 platform (EPYC 9015) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	EPYC 9015	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	SP5	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-6000+88%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	4096 GB+3100%	128 GB
RAM Channels	12+500%	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. Only the EPYC 9015 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V, SEV-SNP (EPYC 9015) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: EPYC 9015 targets Next-gen Data Center / AI Workloads, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: EPYC 9015 rivals Xeon 6; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.