Ryzen 5 5600X vs Opteron 246
Ryzen 5 5600X
Opteron 246
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Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 5600X
Performance Per Dollar Opteron 246
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (SledgeHammer (2003−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 5600X | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($135) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600X and Opteron 246
Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 21,845 points. Launch price was $299.
Opteron 246
The Opteron 246 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Agosto 2003 (22 years ago). It is based on the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 940. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 538 points. Launch price was $109.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 5600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Opteron 246 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Ryzen 5 5600X has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600X versus 2 GHz on the Opteron 246 — a 78.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600X. The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Opteron 246 uses SledgeHammer (2003−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600X scores 21,845 against the Opteron 246's 538 — a 190.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X vs 0 kB on the Opteron 246.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+500% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 4.6 GHz+130% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.7 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-95% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | SledgeHammer (2003−2005) |
| PassMark | 21,845+3960% | 538 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 5600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Opteron 246 uses 940 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | 940 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+100% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600X) / not specified (Opteron 246). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 5600X | Opteron 246 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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