Pentium Gold G5600 vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPU

GPU

Pentium Gold G5600

2 Cores4 Thrd54 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2018

Similar parts

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Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019

Ryzen family

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Pentium Gold G5600 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

Pentium Gold G5600

2 / 4

3,844

0.0%

17,685

+360.1%

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.

Pentium Gold G5600 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 Gold G5600 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 Gold G5600

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 54W instead of 65W, a 11W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (2,200 vs 9,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +144.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium Gold G5600.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Pentium Gold G5600 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌20.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 54W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Pentium Gold G5600 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Pentium Gold G5600?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 144.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 331.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 360.1% higher 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 144.6% 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 331.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 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 $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 144.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2018), 700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Pentium Gold G5600 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Pentium Gold G5600

The Pentium Gold G5600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,844 points. Launch price was $93.

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 Pentium Gold G5600 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Pentium Gold G5600 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3.9 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Pentium Gold G5600 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Gold G5600 scores 3,844 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 128.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 2,200 vs 9,500 (124.8% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 837 vs 1,295, a 43% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold G5600 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Pentium Gold G5600	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	6 / 12+200%
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.2 GHz+8%
Base Clock	3.9 GHz+8%	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+700%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)+100%
Process	14 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-50%
Architecture	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	3,844	17,685+360%
Cinebench R23 Multi	2,200	9,500+332%
Geekbench 6 Single	837	1,295+55%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,898

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium Gold G5600 uses the LGA1151 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 2400 MHz on the Pentium Gold G5600 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Pentium Gold G5600) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel H310,Intel B360,Intel H370,Intel Z370,Intel Z390 (Pentium Gold G5600) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Pentium Gold G5600	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	LGA1151	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4 2400 MHz	DDR4-3200+33%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	16	24+50%

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Pentium Gold G5600) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Pentium Gold G5600 includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium Gold G5600 targets Desktop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.