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

✅Costs $950 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 205.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 18,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $950 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Delivers 205.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 29.1 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $1,149 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +30.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 12 cores / 24 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 24.
✅433.3% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 24) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 18,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (32 MB vs 64 MB).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX, which brings 12 cores / 24 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 29.1 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($1,149 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌330.8% higher power demand at 280W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Ryzen 5 3600 is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 30.3% 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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the better fit. You are getting 94.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 12 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is 477.4% more expensive on MSRP at $1,149 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 30.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 205.2% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 29.1 PassMark/$), 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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019), 100% larger total L3 cache (64 MB vs 32 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 12 cores / 24 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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	200 FPS	202 FPS
medium	161 FPS	164 FPS
high	135 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	183 FPS
medium	119 FPS	145 FPS
high	96 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	88 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	86 FPS
medium	58 FPS	73 FPS
high	46 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	46 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	557 FPS
medium	404 FPS	485 FPS
high	332 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	478 FPS
medium	359 FPS	424 FPS
high	303 FPS	356 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	296 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	299 FPS
medium	259 FPS	268 FPS
high	230 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	217 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	772 FPS
medium	442 FPS	637 FPS
high	442 FPS	568 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	494 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	599 FPS
medium	442 FPS	494 FPS
high	442 FPS	436 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	376 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	431 FPS
medium	361 FPS	344 FPS
high	305 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	243 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	836 FPS
medium	442 FPS	836 FPS
high	442 FPS	823 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	725 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	836 FPS
medium	442 FPS	745 FPS
high	442 FPS	630 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	540 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	594 FPS
medium	442 FPS	540 FPS
high	413 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	405 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX

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 Threadripper PRO 3945WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 14 July 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Castle Peak (2020) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 33,455 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX (base: 3.6 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses Castle Peak (2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX's 33,455 — a 61.7% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 18,500 (64.3% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 1,652, a 24.2% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 11,500 (143.3% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	12 / 24+100%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.3 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	4 GHz+11%
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	64 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Castle Peak (2020)
PassMark	17,685	33,455+89%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	18,500+95%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	1,652+28%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	11,500+506%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX supports up to 2048 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 3600) vs 8 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600) and WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Socket	AM4	sWRX8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	2048 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24	128+433%

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) vs AMD-V (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX rivals Xeon w5-2455X.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	Professional Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX debuted at $1149. On MSRP ($199 vs $1149), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $950 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 29.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3945WX — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 101.3% better value option.