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: +8.9% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $60 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 76.0 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600G.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,685 vs 19,696).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 5600G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 5600G

2021

Why buy it

✅+11.4% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (Vega 7), while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 76.0 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($259 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Ryzen 5 5600G

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.9% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $60 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Delivers 16.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 76.0 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $259 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 5600G.

Why buy it

✅+11.4% higher PassMark.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Graphics (Vega 7), while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,685 vs 19,696).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 5600G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 76.0 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($259 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600G better than Ryzen 5 3600?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 3600 is ahead with a 8.9% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600G pulls ahead with 11.4% better PassMark. 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 5600G is the better fit. You are getting 11.4% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 5600G is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 5 5600G is 30.2% more expensive on MSRP at $259 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you 11.4% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 3600 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 8.9% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 16.9% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 76.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 5600G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 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 5600G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	200 FPS	204 FPS
medium	161 FPS	174 FPS
high	135 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	174 FPS
medium	119 FPS	145 FPS
high	96 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	83 FPS
medium	58 FPS	75 FPS
high	46 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	46 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5600G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	442 FPS	367 FPS
medium	404 FPS	302 FPS
high	332 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	235 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	325 FPS
medium	359 FPS	272 FPS
high	303 FPS	249 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	211 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	248 FPS
medium	259 FPS	211 FPS
high	230 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	155 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5600G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	442 FPS	492 FPS
medium	442 FPS	477 FPS
high	442 FPS	440 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	390 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	492 FPS
medium	442 FPS	416 FPS
high	442 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	327 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	356 FPS
medium	361 FPS	302 FPS
high	305 FPS	263 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	209 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5600G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5600G
1080p
low	442 FPS	492 FPS
medium	442 FPS	492 FPS
high	442 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	492 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	492 FPS
medium	442 FPS	492 FPS
high	442 FPS	492 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	492 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	492 FPS
medium	442 FPS	492 FPS
high	413 FPS	478 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	412 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 5 5600G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 5 5600G

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 5600G

The Ryzen 5 5600G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 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: 19,696 points. Launch price was $259.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 5 5600G 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 5600G — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600G (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 5 5600G uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 5 5600G's 19,696 — a 10.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600G. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600G.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5600G
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.4 GHz+5%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.9 GHz+8%
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	19,696+11%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

🧠

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 AMD 400 series,AMD 500 series (Ryzen 5 5600G).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5600G
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 5600G). The Ryzen 5 5600G includes integrated graphics (Radeon Graphics (Vega 7)), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen 5 5600G targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 5 5600G
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Graphics (Vega 7)
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 5600G debuted at $259. On MSRP ($199 vs $259), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $60 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 76.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 5600G — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 15.6% better value option.