Ryzen 5 5600 vs Ryzen 9 4900HS

Ryzen 5 5600 vs Ryzen 9 4900HS Performance Spectrum

Ryzen 5 5600

6 / 12

21,550

+14.7%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen 9 4900HS

8 / 16

18,793

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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 5600 vs Ryzen 9 4900HS 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 5600 vs Ryzen 9 4900HS: 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 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +13.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Ryzen 9 4900HS.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Ryzen 9 4900HS mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 9 4900HS can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 9 4900HS

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Vega 8, while Ryzen 5 5600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 5600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (18,793 vs 21,550).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 5600 better than Ryzen 9 4900HS?

Yes. Ryzen 5 5600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 13.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 14.7% 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 5 5600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 13.8% 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 5 5600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 14.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 5600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 5600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 13.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 5600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2020), 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 8/16. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 5600 vs Ryzen 9 4900HS Technical Specifications

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

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 9 4900HS

The Ryzen 9 4900HS is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 March 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir (Zen 2) (2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-4266. Passmark benchmark score: 18,793 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 5600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 9 4900HS offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 9 4900HS has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 9 4900HS — a 2.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 9 4900HS uses Renoir (Zen 2) (2020) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Ryzen 9 4900HS's 18,793 — a 13.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 9 4900HS.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 9 4900HS
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz+2%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz+17%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+300%	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512 kB (per core)
Process	7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Vermeer (2020−2025)	Renoir (Zen 2) (2020)
PassMark	21,550+15%	18,793
Cinebench R23 Multi	11,077	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,052	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,600	—

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Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 9 4900HS uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus LPDDR4-4266 on the Ryzen 9 4900HS — the Ryzen 9 4900HS supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 5600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 8 (Ryzen 9 4900HS) — the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 9 4900HS
Socket	AM4	FP6
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	LPDDR4-4266+33%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	24+200%	8

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support AMD-V virtualization. The Ryzen 9 4900HS includes integrated graphics (Vega 8), while the Ryzen 5 5600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop, Ryzen 9 4900HS targets Mobile High-End.