Pentium Silver N6000 vs Ryzen 7 3700X

Intel

Pentium Silver N6000

4 Cores4 Thrd6 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2021
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2019
Ryzen family
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Pentium Silver N6000 vs Ryzen 7 3700X 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 Silver N6000 vs Ryzen 7 3700X 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 Silver N6000 vs Ryzen 7 3700X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Pentium Silver N6000

2021

Why buy it

  • Draws 6W instead of 65W, a 59W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics (32 EU), while Ryzen 7 3700X needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (2,989 vs 22,430).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +315.2% higher average FPS across 37 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • +700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
  • 200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $329 MSRP, while Pentium Silver N6000 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 983.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 6W.
  • No integrated graphics, while Pentium Silver N6000 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Pentium Silver N6000?
Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 315.2% average FPS lead across 37 shared CPU game tests in our data and 650.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 315.2% more average FPS across 37 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 3700X is the stronger fit. You are getting 650.4% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 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 7 3700X is the better buy right now. Ryzen 7 3700X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $329 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 315.2% average FPS lead across 37 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium Silver N6000 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Pentium Silver N6000 vs Ryzen 7 3700X Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Pentium Silver N6000

The Pentium Silver N6000 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Jasper Lake (2021) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.5 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1338. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,989 points. Launch price was $69.

AMD

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. 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: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

Processing Power

The Pentium Silver N6000 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Pentium Silver N6000 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 1.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Pentium Silver N6000 uses the Jasper Lake (2021) architecture (10 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Silver N6000 scores 2,989 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 153% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Pentium Silver N6000 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

FeaturePentium Silver N6000Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads
4 / 4
8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock
3.3 GHz
4.4 GHz+33%
Base Clock
1.1 GHz
3.6 GHz+227%
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
32 MB+700%
L2 Cache
1.5 MB (total)
512K (per core)+34033%
Process
10 nm
7 nm, 12 nm-30%
Architecture
Jasper Lake (2021)
Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark
2,989
22,430+650%
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,911
Geekbench 6 Single
473
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,090
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Memory & Platform

The Pentium Silver N6000 uses the BGA1338 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2933 on the Pentium Silver N6000 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Ryzen 7 3700X supports 9.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Pentium Silver N6000) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Pentium Silver N6000) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).

FeaturePentium Silver N6000Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket
BGA1338
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2933
DDR4-3200+9%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
128 GB+700%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
8
24+200%
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Pentium Silver N6000) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). The Pentium Silver N6000 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics (32 EU)), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium Silver N6000 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Pentium Silver N6000 rivals Celeron N5105.

FeaturePentium Silver N6000Ryzen 7 3700X
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics (32 EU)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
Budget