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

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5700 across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 11,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 135.8 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 5700

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.4% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 135.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Ryzen 7 5700

2022

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.4% higher average FPS across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 52.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 135.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5700 across 38 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 11,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 135.8 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 5700 better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Yes. Ryzen 7 5700 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 5.4% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data, 15.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 37.5% 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 7 5700 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 5.4% more average FPS across 38 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5700 is the better fit. You are getting 15.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 5700 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 5700 is $20 cheaper on MSRP at $179 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 5.4% average FPS lead across 38 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 52.9% better value on MSRP (135.8 vs 88.9 PassMark/$), 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 7 5700 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 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 7 5700 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700
1080p
low	200 FPS	179 FPS
medium	161 FPS	152 FPS
high	135 FPS	122 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	153 FPS
medium	119 FPS	126 FPS
high	96 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	84 FPS
medium	58 FPS	75 FPS
high	46 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	46 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700
1080p
low	442 FPS	417 FPS
medium	404 FPS	352 FPS
high	332 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	360 FPS
medium	359 FPS	316 FPS
high	303 FPS	278 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	237 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	248 FPS
medium	259 FPS	224 FPS
high	230 FPS	209 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	182 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700
1080p
low	442 FPS	608 FPS
medium	442 FPS	574 FPS
high	442 FPS	519 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	431 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	509 FPS
medium	442 FPS	436 FPS
high	442 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	326 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	376 FPS
medium	361 FPS	318 FPS
high	305 FPS	280 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	220 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700
1080p
low	442 FPS	608 FPS
medium	442 FPS	608 FPS
high	442 FPS	608 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	608 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	608 FPS
medium	442 FPS	608 FPS
high	442 FPS	572 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	520 FPS
medium	442 FPS	465 FPS
high	413 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	358 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 7 5700

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 5700

The Ryzen 7 5700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (2021−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 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: 24,317 points. Launch price was $179.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5700 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700 — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700 uses Cezanne (2021−2025) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 7 5700's 24,317 — a 31.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 11,000 (14.6% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 2,000, a 42.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 8,600 (127.7% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 7 5700.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.6 GHz+10%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.7 GHz+3%
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	24,317+38%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	11,000+16%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	2,000+54%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	8,600+353%

🧠

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,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5700).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700
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	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 5700). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen 7 5700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen 7 5700 rivals Core i5-13400F.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5700 debuted at $179. On MSRP ($199 vs $179), the Ryzen 7 5700 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 135.8 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5700 — making the Ryzen 7 5700 the 41.8% better value option.