Ryzen 5 3500U vs Ryzen 5 5600
Ryzen 5 3500U
Ryzen 5 5600
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 3500U is positioned at rank #614 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower 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 3500U
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3500U | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($115) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (2020−2025) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 3500U | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($115) |
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 3500U and Ryzen 5 5600
Ryzen 5 3500U
The Ryzen 5 3500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,836 points. Launch price was $149.
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 3500U 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 3500U versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 — a 17.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3500U uses the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture (12 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses Vermeer (2020−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3500U scores 6,836 against the Ryzen 5 5600's 21,550 — a 103.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 3,545 vs 11,077 (103% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 876 vs 2,052, a 80.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 8,600 (127.7% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500U vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500U | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.4 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3.5 GHz+67% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 32 MB (total)+700% |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm | 7 nm-42% |
| Architecture | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) | Vermeer (2020−2025) |
| PassMark | 6,836 | 21,550+215% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 3,545 | 11,077+212% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 876 | 2,052+134% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,898 | 8,600+353% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 3500U uses the FP5 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 5600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 5600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Ryzen 5 3500U) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) — the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Mobile (Ryzen 5 3500U) and B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500U | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP5 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 24+100% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 5600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen 5 3500U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Ryzen 5 5600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3500U targets Budget, Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3500U rivals Core i5-10210U.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 3500U | Ryzen 5 5600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon Vega 8 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Desktop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Ryzen 5 3500U and Ryzen 5 5600
