Pentium 1403 vs Ryzen 5 3600

Intel

Pentium 1403

2 Cores2 Thrd80 WW2012
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019
Ryzen family
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Pentium 1403 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.

Pentium 1403 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.

Pentium 1403 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.

Pentium 1403

2012

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • Lower PassMark (1,851 vs 17,685).
    • Smaller total L3 cache (5 MB vs 32 MB).
    • 23.1% higher power demand at 80W vs 65W.
    • No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

    Ryzen 5 3600

    2019

    Why buy it

    • Better for gaming: +369.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • +540% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 5 MB).
    • Draws 65W instead of 80W, a 15W reduction.
    • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
    • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium 1403.

    Trade-offs

    • Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Pentium 1403 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Pentium 1403?
    Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 369.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 855.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 369.2% 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, Ryzen 5 3600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 855.4% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 540% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 5 MB).
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Ryzen 5 3600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 3600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 369.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2012), 540% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 5 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Pentium 1403 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

    Intel

    Pentium 1403

    The Pentium 1403 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 5 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,851 points. Launch price was $69.

    AMD

    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 Pentium 1403 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. The Ryzen 5 3600 is built on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. In PassMark, the Pentium 1403 scores 1,851 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 162.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. L3 cache: 5 MB on the Pentium 1403 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

    FeaturePentium 1403Ryzen 5 3600
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    6 / 12+200%
    Boost Clock
    4.2 GHz
    Base Clock
    2.6 GHz
    3.6 GHz+38%
    L3 Cache
    5 MB
    32 MB (total)+540%
    L2 Cache
    512K (per core)
    Process
    32 nm
    7 nm, 12 nm-78%
    Architecture
    Matisse (2019−2020)
    PassMark
    1,851
    17,685+855%
    Cinebench R23 Multi
    9,500
    Geekbench 6 Single
    1,295
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    1,898
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 1403) / Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

    FeaturePentium 1403Ryzen 5 3600
    Integrated GPU
    No
    Unlocked
    Yes
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    Yes
    Target Use
    Gaming/Budget Workstation