Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 vs Core i5-6500
Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
Core i5-6500
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is positioned at rank 255 and the Core i5-6500 is on rank 715, so the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($123) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+54%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($80) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($123) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 and Core i5-6500
Ryzen 3 PRO 1200
The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 5,609 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-6500
The Core i5-6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,600 points. Launch price was $192.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 and Core i5-6500 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-6500 — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-6500 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-6500 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 scores 5,609 against the Core i5-6500's 5,600 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-6500.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.6 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+33% | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 5,609 | 5,600 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-6500 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 launched at $109 MSRP, while the Core i5-6500 debuted at $239. At current prices ($80 vs $123), the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 is $43 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 delivers 70.1 pts/$ vs 45.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-6500 — making the Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 the 42.5% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 | Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $109-54% | $239 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80-35% | $123 |
| Performance per Dollar | 70.1+54% | 45.5 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2015 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Ryzen 3 PRO 1200 and Core i5-6500
