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CPU comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500

Benchmark comparison and full specifications, with the measured difference and a clear winner for gaming, office work, daily use and content creation.

ACheck Price on AmazonAMD Ryzen 5 3600BCheck Price on AmazonAMD Ryzen 5 5500

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are set by Amazon.

APart A

AMD

Ryzen 5 3600

  • Blender render score 137 samples/min
  • Cores 6
  • Max boost clock 4.2 GHz
VS

BPart B

AMD

Ryzen 5 5500

  • Blender render score 141 samples/min
  • Cores 6
  • Max boost clock 4.2 GHz
Compare other parts

01 · Performance profile

How they score

Scores out of 100 for each way you might use a processor. The chart shows where both parts rank among all 667 CPUs in our database.

Measured performance

AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is 3% faster in the Blender benchmark

AAMD Ryzen 5 3600137

Median of 45 submissions

BAMD Ryzen 5 5500141

Median of 19 submissions

Blender Benchmark render score (samples per minute, higher is faster), the median of community-submitted results from Blender Open Data.

A
B
Lowest: 2Average: 22Highest: 79

Gaming

A31%Basic
B26%Basic

Better pick: Ryzen 5 3600 · L3 cache: 32 MB vs 16 MB

Office Work

A34%Basic
B34%Basic

Too close to call

Daily Use

A34%Basic
B34%Basic

Too close to call

Content Creation

A31%Basic
B31%Basic

Too close to call

02 · Verdict

Too close to call

Both parts score within a few points. Choose on price, availability and the use case that matters most to you.

AAMD Ryzen 5 3600

33/100

BAMD Ryzen 5 5500

31/100

AAMD Ryzen 5 3600

Advantages

  • L3 cache 32 MB vs 16 MB (100% higher)

Disadvantages

  • Blender render score 137 samples/min vs 141 samples/min (3% lower)

BAMD Ryzen 5 5500

Advantages

  • Blender render score 141 samples/min vs 137 samples/min (3% higher)

Disadvantages

  • L3 cache 16 MB vs 32 MB (50% lower)

03 · Full comparison

Side-by-side specifications

SpecificationAAMD Ryzen 5 3600BAMD Ryzen 5 5500
Measured performance
Blender render scoreMedian of community-submitted Blender Benchmark results (Blender Open Data). Higher is faster.137 samples/min141 samples/min Better +3%
Benchmark submissionsHow many results the median is based on. Small numbers are less reliable.4519
Cores & clocks
Cores66
Efficiency (E) cores——
Threads1212
Base clock3.6 GHz3.6 GHz
Max boost clock4.2 GHz4.2 GHz
Memory & cache
L3 cache32 MB Better +100%16 MB
Memory supportDDR4DDR4
Power
TDP / base power65 W65 W
Features
Integrated graphicsNoNo
Platform
ArchitectureZen 2Zen 3
SocketAM4AM4
Manufacturing process7 nm7 nm
Release year20192022
Launch price$199$159

Ready to buy?

Prices change daily. Check the current price of each part.

ACheck Price on Amazon: Ryzen 5 3600BCheck Price on Amazon: Ryzen 5 5500

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are set by Amazon.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500 at a glance

This page compares the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 using published specifications and real measured benchmark results. In the Blender Benchmark, AMD Ryzen 5 5500 posts a median render score of 141 against 137 for AMD Ryzen 5 3600, making it 3% faster. The medians are based on 19 and 45 community submissions.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600: 6 cores, 12 threads, 4.2 GHz max boost clock, 65 W tdp / base power, released in 2019, launched at $199. AMD Ryzen 5 5500: 6 cores, 12 threads, 4.2 GHz max boost clock, 65 W tdp / base power, released in 2022, launched at $159.

Our overall scores are 33 for Ryzen 5 3600 and 31 for Ryzen 5 5500 out of 100. By use case, the better pick is, for gaming: Ryzen 5 3600; for office work: too close to call; for daily use: too close to call; for content creation: too close to call. Blender measures rendering rather than game frame rates, so treat the gaming result as a guide built from render performance and specifications.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 5 5500 FAQ

Which is faster, the Ryzen 5 3600 or the Ryzen 5 5500?

In the Blender Benchmark, AMD Ryzen 5 5500 posts a median render score of 141 against 137 for AMD Ryzen 5 3600, making it 3% faster. The medians are based on 19 and 45 community submissions.

Which uses more power, the Ryzen 5 3600 or the Ryzen 5 5500?

Both are rated at 65 W.

How much did the Ryzen 5 3600 and the Ryzen 5 5500 cost at launch?

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 launched at $199 and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 at $159. Street prices change often, so check a current price before buying.

Is the Ryzen 5 3600 or the Ryzen 5 5500 better for gaming?

Our gaming score favours the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (31 vs 26 out of 100). That score blends measured render performance with clock speed, cache and memory, because no game benchmark is included in our data.

More CPU comparisons

About this data

Benchmark numbers come from Blender Open Data, a public collection of results submitted by real users, shown as medians with the submission count. Specifications and launch prices are compiled from manufacturer information and may contain mistakes. See how it all works on thePC Parts Comparison page, or report an error through our contact page. This page contains affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.