Chipversus Index
Jump to Section

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Ryzen 5 5600

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

Ryzen 5 1500X

4 Cores8 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2017
Buy on Amazon
VS
AMD

Ryzen 5 5600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.4 GHz2022
Buy on Amazon

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Ryzen 5 5600 Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 1500X
4 / 8
9,074
0.0%
brand logoRyzen Embedded V2A46
brand logoRyzen 3 PRO 2200GE
brand logoRyzen 7 3700U
brand logoRyzen Embedded V1807B
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 1950X
brand logoRyzen 9 PRO 7945
brand logoRyzen 9 9950X
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX
Ryzen 5 5600
6 / 12
21,550
+137.5%
brand logoRyzen 3 8440U
brand logoRyzen 5 4600HS
brand logoRyzen 7 PRO 5875U
brand logoRyzen 7 7445HS
brand logoRyzen 9 5900X
brand logoRyzen 9 9955HX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX
brand logoRyzen 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 5 1500X vs Ryzen 5 5600 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low182 FPS
medium156 FPS
high127 FPS
ultra99 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low161 FPS
medium130 FPS
high112 FPS
ultra93 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low225 FPS
medium194 FPS
high178 FPS
ultra138 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low508 FPS
medium419 FPS
high351 FPS
ultra310 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low227 FPS
medium227 FPS
high227 FPS
ultra227 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low539 FPS
medium526 FPS
high483 FPS
ultra414 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low227 FPS
medium227 FPS
high227 FPS
ultra227 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low539 FPS
medium539 FPS
high539 FPS
ultra539 FPS
Among Us

Among Us

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low227 FPS
medium227 FPS
high227 FPS
ultra215 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low300 FPS
medium279 FPS
high255 FPS
ultra230 FPS
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low227 FPS
medium193 FPS
high164 FPS
ultra143 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low267 FPS
medium205 FPS
high173 FPS
ultra150 FPS
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low192 FPS
medium168 FPS
high135 FPS
ultra107 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low163 FPS
medium143 FPS
high118 FPS
ultra98 FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low227 FPS
medium227 FPS
high210 FPS
ultra179 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low351 FPS
medium299 FPS
high259 FPS
ultra220 FPS
Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone

1080P
Ryzen 5 1500X
low202 FPS
medium175 FPS
high144 FPS
ultra131 FPS
1080P
Ryzen 5 5600
low236 FPS
medium216 FPS
high181 FPS
ultra170 FPS
Check FPS with Custom Builds

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Ryzen 5 5600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Ryzen 5 1500X

2017

Why buy it

  • ✅Costs $10 less on MSRP ($189 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,641 vs 11,077).
  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 48.0 vs 108.3 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Why buy it

  • ✅Better for gaming: +44.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • ✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
  • ✅Delivers 125.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 108.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
  • ✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • ❌
    5.3% HIGHER MSRP
    $199 MSRPvs$189 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600 better than Ryzen 5 1500X?
Yes. Ryzen 5 5600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 44.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 138.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 137.5% 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 5600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 44.4% 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 5600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 138.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 5 5600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5600 comes in 5.3% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $189 MSRP, and it still gives you a 44.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 125.6% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 48.0 PassMark/$), 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 5600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2017), 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 1500X vs Ryzen 5 5600 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Ryzen 5 1500X

The Ryzen 5 1500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 9,074 points. Launch price was $189.

AMD

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 1500X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1500X versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 17.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1500X uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1500X scores 9,074 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 81.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 4,641 vs 11,077 (81.9% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,120 vs 2,052, a 58.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 3,700 vs 8,600 (79.7% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600). L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1500X vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XRyzen 5 5600
Cores / Threads
4 / 8
6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz
4.4 GHz+19%
Base Clock
3.5 GHz
3.5 GHz
L3 Cache
16 MB (total)
32 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
512K (per core)
Process
14 nm
7 nm-50%
Architecture
Zen (2017−2020)
Vermeer (2020−2025)
PassMark
9,074
21,550+137%
Cinebench R23 Multi
4,641
11,077+139%
Geekbench 6 Single
1,120
2,052+83%
Geekbench 6 Multi
3,700
8,600+132%
🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2666 on the Ryzen 5 1500X versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 — the Ryzen 5 5600 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600 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: 20 (Ryzen 5 1500X) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) — the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Ryzen 5 1500X) and B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600).

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XRyzen 5 5600
Socket
AM4
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR4-3200+20%
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
128 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
20
24+20%
🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 1500X targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 1500X rivals Core i5-7500.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XRyzen 5 5600
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
Yes
Yes
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 1500X was priced at $189, while the Ryzen 5 5600 came in at $199. On launch pricing ($189 vs $199), Ryzen 5 1500X was $10 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 1500X delivers 48.0 pts/$ vs 108.3 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600 — making the Ryzen 5 5600 the 77.1% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 5 1500XRyzen 5 5600
MSRP
$189-5%
$199
Performance per Dollar
48.0
108.3+126%
Release Date
2017
2022
Search Ryzen 5 1500X on AmazonSearch Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.