Ryzen 5 2500U vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Ryzen 5 2500U
Ryzen 7 3700X
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. The Ryzen 5 2500U is positioned at rank #106 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Balanced cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 2500U
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2500U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($349) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Raven Ridge (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2500U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+761%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($349) | ✅ More affordable ($140) |
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 5 2500U and Ryzen 7 3700X
Ryzen 5 2500U
The Ryzen 5 2500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 26 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,494 points. Launch price was $149.
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 Ryzen 5 2500U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2500U versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 20% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2500U uses the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2500U scores 6,494 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 110.2% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2500U vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2500U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz+22% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+80% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 32 MB+700% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Raven Ridge (2017−2019) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 6,494 | 22,430+245% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 818 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,310 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 2500U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Ryzen 5 2500U) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FP5 (Ryzen 5 2500U) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2500U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 128 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 24+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 2500U) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). The Ryzen 5 2500U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Ryzen 7 3700X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2500U targets Mainstream Laptop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2500U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 8 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 2500U launched at $349 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2500U | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $349 | $329-6% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $140 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2019 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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