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 $1,138 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 90.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 42,986).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 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 46.6 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($1,337 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 3975WX

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,138 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Delivers 90.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 46.6 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $1,337 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +17.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 32 cores / 64 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 3975WX across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 42,986).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, which brings 32 cores / 64 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 46.6 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($1,337 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 3975WX better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX 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 3975WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 17.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 128 MB vs 32 MB.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is the better fit. You are getting 352.5% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 32 cores and 64 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (128 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is 571.9% more expensive on MSRP at $1,337 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 17.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 90.8% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 46.6 PassMark/$), 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 3975WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2019), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 128 MB L3 cache instead of 32 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 32 cores / 64 threads instead of 6/12. That extra cache should hold up really well in CPU-limited games and high-refresh builds.

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 3975WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	200 FPS	183 FPS
medium	161 FPS	149 FPS
high	135 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	160 FPS
medium	119 FPS	127 FPS
high	96 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	79 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	73 FPS
medium	58 FPS	61 FPS
high	46 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	40 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	579 FPS
medium	404 FPS	499 FPS
high	332 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	485 FPS
medium	359 FPS	425 FPS
high	303 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	274 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	304 FPS
medium	259 FPS	270 FPS
high	230 FPS	231 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	202 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	681 FPS
medium	442 FPS	564 FPS
high	442 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	570 FPS
medium	442 FPS	479 FPS
high	442 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	417 FPS
medium	361 FPS	333 FPS
high	305 FPS	293 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	234 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	1020 FPS
medium	442 FPS	917 FPS
high	442 FPS	765 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	664 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	802 FPS
medium	442 FPS	701 FPS
high	442 FPS	584 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	496 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	559 FPS
medium	442 FPS	504 FPS
high	413 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	373 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX

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 3975WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2020-07-14. It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 32 cores and 64 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 128 MB. L2 cache: 512K (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: 62,261 points. Launch price was $4,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 32 cores / 64 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX has 26 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.5 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 Threadripper PRO 3975WX's 62,261 — a 111.5% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 42,986 (127.6% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 1,260, a 2.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 25,211 (172% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 128 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	32 / 64+433%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+3%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	128 MB+300%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	17,685	62,261+252%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	42,986+352%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295+3%	1,260
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	25,211+1228%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX 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 3975WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX offers 104 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600) and AMD WRX80 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
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 true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX rivals Xeon W-3375.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	true
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX debuted at $1337. On MSRP ($199 vs $1337), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $1138 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 46.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 62.5% better value option.