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 $6,300 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $6,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 509.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 14.6 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $6,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 66,403).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +59.1% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 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 14.6 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($6,499 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 5995WX

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $6,300 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $6,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 509.6% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 14.6 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $6,499 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 280W, a 215W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +59.1% higher average FPS across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 64 cores / 128 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 5995WX across 3 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,500 vs 66,403).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX, which brings 64 cores / 128 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.6 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($6,499 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 5995WX better than Ryzen 5 3600?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX 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 5995WX is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 59.1% more average FPS across 3 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 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 5995WX is the better fit. You are getting 599% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 64 cores and 128 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 32 MB).

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

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is 3165.8% more expensive on MSRP at $6,499 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 59.1% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 3600 is also 509.6% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 14.6 PassMark/$), 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 5995WX is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), 3D V-Cache and a much larger 256 MB L3 cache instead of 32 MB, and more multi-core headroom with 64 cores / 128 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 5995WX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX
1080p
low	200 FPS	205 FPS
medium	161 FPS	169 FPS
high	135 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	106 FPS	109 FPS
1440p
low	154 FPS	166 FPS
medium	119 FPS	131 FPS
high	96 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	70 FPS	90 FPS
medium	58 FPS	77 FPS
high	46 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	49 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	760 FPS
medium	404 FPS	648 FPS
high	332 FPS	510 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	420 FPS	619 FPS
medium	359 FPS	540 FPS
high	303 FPS	444 FPS
ultra	263 FPS	361 FPS
4K
low	297 FPS	362 FPS
medium	259 FPS	318 FPS
high	230 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	253 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	920 FPS
medium	442 FPS	775 FPS
high	442 FPS	712 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	631 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	666 FPS
medium	442 FPS	560 FPS
high	442 FPS	509 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	446 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	475 FPS
medium	361 FPS	382 FPS
high	305 FPS	347 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	279 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX
1080p
low	442 FPS	1160 FPS
medium	442 FPS	1015 FPS
high	442 FPS	894 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	790 FPS
1440p
low	442 FPS	933 FPS
medium	442 FPS	809 FPS
high	442 FPS	709 FPS
ultra	442 FPS	613 FPS
4K
low	442 FPS	661 FPS
medium	442 FPS	588 FPS
high	413 FPS	522 FPS
ultra	357 FPS	437 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 3600 Open Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX

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 5995WX

The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2022-03-08. It is based on the Chagall PRO (2022) architecture. It features 64 cores and 128 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: sWRX8. Thermal design power (TDP): 280 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 94,737 points. Launch price was $6,499.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX offers 64 cores / 128 threads — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX has 58 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX — a 6.9% clock advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX uses Chagall PRO (2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3600 scores 17,685 against the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX's 94,737 — a 137.1% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 9,500 vs 66,403 (149.9% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,295 vs 1,500, a 14.7% lead for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,898 vs 20,000 (165.3% advantage for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600 vs 256 MB on the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	64 / 128+967%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.5 GHz+7%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+33%	2.7 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)	256 MB+700%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm, 12 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Matisse (2019−2020)	Chagall PRO (2022)
PassMark	17,685	94,737+436%
Cinebench R23 Multi	9,500	66,403+599%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,295	1,500+16%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,898	20,000+954%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 3600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX uses sWRX8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX 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 5995WX). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) vs 128 (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX) — the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX 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 5995WX).

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX
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

Virtualization support: Yes (Ryzen 5 3600) vs true (Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation, Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX targets Professional Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400; Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX rivals Xeon w9-3495X.

Feature	Ryzen 5 3600	Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	Yes	true
Target Use	Gaming/Budget Workstation	Professional Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX debuted at $6499. On MSRP ($199 vs $6499), the Ryzen 5 3600 is $6300 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3600 delivers 88.9 pts/$ vs 14.6 pts/$ for the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 143.6% better value option.