Ryzen 3 7440U vs Ryzen 5 3500X

Ryzen 3 7440U vs Ryzen 5 3500X Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 3 7440U

4 / 8

13,100

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen 5 3500X

6 / 6

13,165

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

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.

Ryzen 3 7440U vs Ryzen 5 3500X 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.

Ryzen 3 7440U vs Ryzen 5 3500X: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Ryzen 3 7440U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,100 vs 13,165).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 3500X

2019

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 3 7440U across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $155 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 7440U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 7440U moves to FP7 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 7440U better than Ryzen 5 3500X?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 3 7440U is ahead with a 7.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3500X pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 3500X also has the bigger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3500X is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 6 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Ryzen 3 7440U is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3500X is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 3 7440U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $155 MSRP, and it still gives you a 7.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Ryzen 5 3500X is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.5% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 3500X is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (84.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 3 7440U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of AM4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Ryzen 3 7440U vs Ryzen 5 3500X Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 3 7440U

The Ryzen 3 7440U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 May 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Phoenix-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 13,100 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 5 3500X

The Ryzen 5 3500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 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: 13,165 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 3 7440U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3500X offers 6 cores / 6 threads — the Ryzen 5 3500X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 3 7440U versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500X — a 13.6% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 7440U (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 3 7440U uses the Phoenix-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 7440U scores 13,100 against the Ryzen 5 3500X's 13,165 — a 0.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 3500X. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 7440U vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500X.

Feature	Ryzen 3 7440U	Ryzen 5 3500X
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 6+50%
Boost Clock	4.7 GHz+15%	4.1 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz	3.6 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+300%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	4 nm-43%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Phoenix-U (Zen 4 + Zen 4c) (2023)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	13,100	13,165

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 7440U uses the FP7 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 3500X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.