Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 PRO 3700

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.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 PRO 3700: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 28.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 69.2 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 PRO 3700.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (17,685 vs 22,777).

Ryzen 7 PRO 3700

2019

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 69.2 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Yes. Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 28.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 28.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

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

Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 comes in 65.3% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 28.4% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 69.2 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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 PRO 3700

The Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 30 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 22,777 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). Both are built on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture using a 7 nm, 12 nm process. In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700's 22,777 — a 25.2% lead for the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 PRO 3700
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.4 GHz+5%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	32 MB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	17,685	22,777+29%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	—

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 4.0.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 PRO 3700
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	24	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) / not specified (Ryzen 7 PRO 3700). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 PRO 3700
Integrated GPU	No	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	Yes	—
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Ryzen 5 3600 was priced at $199, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 came in at $329. On launch pricing ($199 vs $329), Ryzen 5 3600 was $130 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 69.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 24.8% better value option.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen 7 PRO 3700
MSRP	$199-40%	$329
Performance per Dollar	88.9+28%	69.2
Release Date	2019	2019

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