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 $130 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700G across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 18,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 96.2 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 8700G moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 8700G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 7 8700G

2024

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 8.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 96.2 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌
65.3% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$199 MSRP

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Ryzen 7 8700G

2024

Why buy it

✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +41.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Delivers 8.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 96.2 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 780M, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 8700G across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 18,000).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 88.9 vs 96.2 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 7 8700G moves to AM5 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 7 8700G can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌
65.3% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$199 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 8700G better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Yes. Ryzen 7 8700G is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 41.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 89.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 79.0% 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 8700G is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 41.3% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 8700G is the better fit. You are getting 89.5% 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 8700G is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 8700G is 65.3% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 41.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 8.2% better value on MSRP (96.2 vs 88.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Ryzen 5 3600 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Ryzen 7 8700G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019), a healthier platform with AM5 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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 8700G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	200 FPS	267 FPS
medium	161 FPS	240 FPS
high	135 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	174 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	236 FPS
medium	119 FPS	192 FPS
high	96 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	163 FPS
medium	58 FPS	135 FPS
high	46 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	91 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	442 FPS	483 FPS
medium	404 FPS	398 FPS
high	332 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	423 FPS
medium	359 FPS	367 FPS
high	303 FPS	317 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	269 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	280 FPS
medium	259 FPS	254 FPS
high	230 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	206 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	442 FPS	791 FPS
medium	442 FPS	791 FPS
high	442 FPS	690 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	581 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	730 FPS
medium	442 FPS	609 FPS
high	442 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	435 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	506 FPS
medium	361 FPS	441 FPS
high	305 FPS	392 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	329 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 8700G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 8700G
1080p
low	442 FPS	791 FPS
medium	442 FPS	791 FPS
high	442 FPS	791 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	756 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	791 FPS
medium	442 FPS	764 FPS
high	442 FPS	661 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	574 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	579 FPS
medium	442 FPS	514 FPS
high	413 FPS	459 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	395 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen 7 8700G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 7 8700G

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 8700G

The Ryzen 7 8700G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix (2023−2024) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 4.2 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 31,649 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 8700G offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 8700G has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen 7 8700G — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700G (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 8700G uses Phoenix (2023−2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 7 8700G's 31,649 — a 56.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 8700G. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 18,000 (61.8% advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700G). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 2,720, a 71% lead for the Ryzen 7 8700G that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 14,326 (153.2% advantage for the Ryzen 7 8700G). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 8700G.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 8700G
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	5.1 GHz+21%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4.2 GHz+17%
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+100%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Phoenix (2023−2024)
PassMark	17,685	31,649+79%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	18,000+89%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	2,720+110%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	14,326+655%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 8700G uses AM5 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus DDR5-5200 on the Ryzen 7 8700G — the Ryzen 7 8700G supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 8700G supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) vs 20 (Ryzen 7 8700G) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600) and X670,B650,A620 (Ryzen 7 8700G).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 8700G
Socket	AM4	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5200+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	24+20%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Only the Ryzen 7 8700G supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 7 8700G). The Ryzen 7 8700G includes integrated graphics (Radeon 780M), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen 7 8700G targets High-end Desktop APU. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen 7 8700G rivals Core i7-13700.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 8700G
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	Radeon 780M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	High-end Desktop APU

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 8700G debuted at $329. On MSRP ($199 vs $329), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $130 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 96.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 8700G — making the Ryzen 7 8700G the 7.9% better value option.