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).
✅Costs $160 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
✅Delivers 31.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 67.9 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5700G across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 14,000).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 5700G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 5700G

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.5% higher average FPS across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 8, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.9 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Ryzen 7 5700G

2021

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $160 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).
✅Delivers 31.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 67.9 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $359 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.5% higher average FPS across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 8, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5700G across 43 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 14,000).
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 5700G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.9 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($359 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Quick Answers

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

Yes. Ryzen 7 5700G is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 4.5% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data, 47.4% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 37.7% 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 7 5700G is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 4.5% more average FPS across 43 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5700G is the better fit. You are getting 47.4% 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 5700G is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 7 5700G is 80.4% more expensive on MSRP at $359 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.5% average FPS lead across 43 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 31.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 67.9 PassMark/$), 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 7 5700G 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 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 5700G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700G
1080p
low	200 FPS	200 FPS
medium	161 FPS	173 FPS
high	135 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	169 FPS
medium	119 FPS	141 FPS
high	96 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	84 FPS
medium	58 FPS	75 FPS
high	46 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	46 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700G
1080p
low	442 FPS	474 FPS
medium	404 FPS	394 FPS
high	332 FPS	345 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	304 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	409 FPS
medium	359 FPS	351 FPS
high	303 FPS	313 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	266 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	283 FPS
medium	259 FPS	249 FPS
high	230 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	200 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700G
1080p
low	442 FPS	582 FPS
medium	442 FPS	484 FPS
high	442 FPS	438 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	378 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	525 FPS
medium	442 FPS	445 FPS
high	442 FPS	401 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	345 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	398 FPS
medium	361 FPS	332 FPS
high	305 FPS	291 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	235 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700G
1080p
low	442 FPS	609 FPS
medium	442 FPS	609 FPS
high	442 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	609 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	609 FPS
medium	442 FPS	609 FPS
high	442 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	609 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	609 FPS
medium	442 FPS	590 FPS
high	413 FPS	528 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 5700G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 5700G

The Ryzen 7 5700G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 13 April 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne (Zen 3) (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 24,360 points. Launch price was $359.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5700G offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5700G has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700G — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700G (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700G uses Cezanne (Zen 3) (2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 7 5700G's 24,360 — a 31.8% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700G. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 14,000 (38.3% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700G). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 1,500, a 14.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700G that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 9,000 (130.3% advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700G). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 7 5700G.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700G
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.6 GHz+10%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.8 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+100%	16 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Cezanne (Zen 3) (2021)
PassMark	17,685	24,360+38%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	14,000+47%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	1,500+16%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	9,000+374%

🧠

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 A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5700G).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700G
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 7 5700G). The Ryzen 7 5700G includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen 7 5700G targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen 7 5700G rivals Core i7-11700.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 5700G
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon Vega 8
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 5700G debuted at $359. On MSRP ($199 vs $359), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $160 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 67.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5700G — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 26.8% better value option.