Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U

AMD

Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019
Ryzen family
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VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U

8 Cores16 Thrd15 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2022
Similar parts
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Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

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 5875U 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 5875U: 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

  • +6.1% higher PassMark.
  • +100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.

Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U

2022

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (16,666 vs 17,685).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U better than Ryzen 5 3600?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U is ahead with a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3600 pulls ahead with 6.1% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 3600 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 6.1% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has 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 7 PRO 5875U is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Ryzen 5 3600 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 6.1% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 5875U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

AMD

Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U

The Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 16,666 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U — a 6.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U uses Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U's 16,666 — a 5.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U.

FeatureRyzen 5 3600Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U
Cores / Threads
6 / 12
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.2 GHz
4.5 GHz+7%
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+80%
2 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB (total)+100%
16 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
512K (per core)
Process
7 nm, 12 nm
7 nm
Architecture
Matisse (2019−2020)
Cezanne U (Zen 3) (2021−2022)
PassMark
17,685+6%
16,666
Cinebench R23 Multi
9,500
Geekbench 6 Single
1,295
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,898
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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U uses FP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureRyzen 5 3600Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U
Socket
AM4
FP6
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 5875U). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

FeatureRyzen 5 3600Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
Yes
Target Use
Gaming/Budget Workstation