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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 10,500).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 150.8 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $125 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 5500GT can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 5500GT

2024

Why buy it

✅+10.5% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $74 less on MSRP ($125 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 69.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 150.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($125 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 7, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Ryzen 5 5500GT

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.0% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅+10.5% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Costs $74 less on MSRP ($125 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 69.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 150.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($125 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 7, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 10,500).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 150.8 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $125 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 5500GT can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5500GT better than Ryzen 5 3600?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 3600 is ahead with a 6.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5500GT pulls ahead with 10.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 3600 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5500GT is the better fit. You are getting 10.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 5500GT is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 5500GT is $74 cheaper on MSRP at $125 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you 10.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 3600 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 6.0% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 69.7% better value on MSRP (150.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 5500GT is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Ryzen 5 3600 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 5500GT Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5500GT
1080p
low	200 FPS	178 FPS
medium	161 FPS	148 FPS
high	135 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	99 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	152 FPS
medium	119 FPS	124 FPS
high	96 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	83 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	83 FPS
medium	58 FPS	74 FPS
high	46 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	46 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5500GT

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5500GT
1080p
low	442 FPS	340 FPS
medium	404 FPS	287 FPS
high	332 FPS	256 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	222 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	301 FPS
medium	359 FPS	261 FPS
high	303 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	202 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	234 FPS
medium	259 FPS	207 FPS
high	230 FPS	191 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	161 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5500GT

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5500GT
1080p
low	442 FPS	471 FPS
medium	442 FPS	471 FPS
high	442 FPS	471 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	418 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	471 FPS
medium	442 FPS	409 FPS
high	442 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	308 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	339 FPS
medium	361 FPS	287 FPS
high	305 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	192 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5500GT

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5500GT
1080p
low	442 FPS	471 FPS
medium	442 FPS	471 FPS
high	442 FPS	471 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	471 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	471 FPS
medium	442 FPS	471 FPS
high	442 FPS	471 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	461 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	471 FPS
medium	442 FPS	428 FPS
high	413 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	327 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5500GT

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 5 5500GT

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 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: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

Ryzen 5 5500GT

The Ryzen 5 5500GT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 18,846 points. Launch price was $125.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 5 5500GT share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500GT — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5500GT (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5500GT uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 5 5500GT's 18,846 — a 6.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500GT. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 10,500 (10% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5500GT). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 1,412, a 8.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 5500GT that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 8,514 (127.1% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5500GT). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5500GT.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5500GT
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.4 GHz+5%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+100%	16 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Cezanne (2021−2025)
PassMark	17,685	18,846+7%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	10,500+11%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	1,412+9%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	8,514+349%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600) and A520,B450,B550,X470,X570 (Ryzen 5 5500GT).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5500GT
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5500GT). The Ryzen 5 5500GT includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 7), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen 5 5500GT targets Budget. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen 5 5500GT rivals Core i5-12400.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5500GT
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Vega 7
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5500GT debuted at $125. On MSRP ($199 vs $125), the Ryzen 5 5500GT is $74 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 150.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5500GT — making the Ryzen 5 5500GT the 51.7% better value option.