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: +22.3% higher average FPS across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 105.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 1700

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $59 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 105.5 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,065 vs 9,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Ryzen 7 1700

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.3% higher average FPS across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Costs $59 less on MSRP ($140 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 18.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 105.5 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($140 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 105.5 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $140 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 40 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (8,065 vs 9,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Ryzen 7 1700?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 22.3% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data, 17.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 19.7% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 22.3% more average FPS across 40 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better fit. You are getting 17.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries 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 3600 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 7 1700 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 5 3600 is 42.1% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $140 MSRP, and it gives you a 22.3% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 7 1700 is also 18.7% better value on MSRP (105.5 vs 88.9 PassMark/$), 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 3600 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017), 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. 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 7 1700 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 1700
1080p
low	200 FPS	168 FPS
medium	161 FPS	144 FPS
high	135 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	95 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	142 FPS
medium	119 FPS	119 FPS
high	96 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	76 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	64 FPS
medium	58 FPS	58 FPS
high	46 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	36 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 1700

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 1700
1080p
low	442 FPS	277 FPS
medium	404 FPS	245 FPS
high	332 FPS	219 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	244 FPS
medium	359 FPS	221 FPS
high	303 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	162 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	177 FPS
medium	259 FPS	165 FPS
high	230 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	120 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 1700

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 1700
1080p
low	442 FPS	369 FPS
medium	442 FPS	369 FPS
high	442 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	369 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	369 FPS
medium	442 FPS	369 FPS
high	442 FPS	367 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	311 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	350 FPS
medium	361 FPS	284 FPS
high	305 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	209 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 1700

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 1700
1080p
low	442 FPS	369 FPS
medium	442 FPS	369 FPS
high	442 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	369 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	369 FPS
medium	442 FPS	369 FPS
high	442 FPS	369 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	369 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	369 FPS
medium	442 FPS	369 FPS
high	413 FPS	361 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	311 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 1700

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 7 1700

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 7 1700

The Ryzen 7 1700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16384 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,772 points. Launch price was $329.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 1700 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 1700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 1700 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 1700 uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 7 1700's 14,772 — a 17.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 8,065 (16.3% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 1,000, a 25.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 5,000 (89.9% advantage for the Ryzen 7 1700). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 16384 kB on the Ryzen 7 1700.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 1700
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+14%	3.7 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+20%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+100%	16384 kB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	4096 kB+700%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm-50%	14 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Zen (2017−2020)
PassMark	17,685+20%	14,772
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500+18%	8,065
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295+30%	1,000
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	5,000+163%

🧠

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 B350,X370,B450,X470,A520,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 1700).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 1700
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 1700). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen 7 1700 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen 7 1700 rivals Core i7-7700K.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 1700
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 1700 debuted at $140. On MSRP ($199 vs $140), the Ryzen 7 1700 is $59 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 105.5 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 1700 — making the Ryzen 7 1700 the 17.1% better value option.