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CPU comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 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 3600XBCheck Price on AmazonAMD Ryzen 5 5500

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APart A

AMD

Ryzen 5 3600X

  • Blender render score 140 samples/min
  • Cores 6
  • Max boost clock 4.4 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 1% faster in the Blender benchmark

AAMD Ryzen 5 3600X140

Median of 10 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

A35%Fair
B26%Basic

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

Office Work

A33%Basic
B34%Basic

Too close to call

Daily Use

A32%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 3600X

33/100

BAMD Ryzen 5 5500

31/100

AAMD Ryzen 5 3600X

Advantages

  • L3 cache 32 MB vs 16 MB (100% higher)
  • Base clock 3.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz (6% higher)
  • Max boost clock 4.4 GHz vs 4.2 GHz (5% higher)

Disadvantages

  • TDP / base power 95 W vs 65 W (46% higher)
  • Blender render score 140 samples/min vs 141 samples/min (1% lower)

BAMD Ryzen 5 5500

Advantages

  • TDP / base power 65 W vs 95 W (32% lower)
  • Blender render score 141 samples/min vs 140 samples/min (1% higher)

Disadvantages

  • L3 cache 16 MB vs 32 MB (50% lower)
  • Base clock 3.6 GHz vs 3.8 GHz (5% lower)
  • Max boost clock 4.2 GHz vs 4.4 GHz (5% lower)

03 · Full comparison

Side-by-side specifications

SpecificationAAMD Ryzen 5 3600XBAMD Ryzen 5 5500
Measured performance
Blender render scoreMedian of community-submitted Blender Benchmark results (Blender Open Data). Higher is faster.140 samples/min141 samples/min Better +1%
Benchmark submissionsHow many results the median is based on. Small numbers are less reliable.1019
Cores & clocks
Cores66
Efficiency (E) cores——
Threads1212
Base clock3.8 GHz Better +6%3.6 GHz
Max boost clock4.4 GHz Better +5%4.2 GHz
Memory & cache
L3 cache32 MB Better +100%16 MB
Memory supportDDR4DDR4
Power
TDP / base power95 W65 W Better
Features
Integrated graphicsNoNo
Platform
ArchitectureZen 2Zen 3
SocketAM4AM4
Manufacturing process7 nm7 nm
Release year20192022
Launch price$249$159

Ready to buy?

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

ACheck Price on Amazon: Ryzen 5 3600XBCheck 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 3600X vs AMD Ryzen 5 5500 at a glance

This page compares the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 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 140 for AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, making it 1% faster. The medians are based on 19 and 10 community submissions.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600X: 6 cores, 12 threads, 4.4 GHz max boost clock, 95 W tdp / base power, released in 2019, launched at $249. 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 3600X and 31 for Ryzen 5 5500 out of 100. By use case, the better pick is, for gaming: Ryzen 5 3600X; 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 3600X vs Ryzen 5 5500 FAQ

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

In the Blender Benchmark, AMD Ryzen 5 5500 posts a median render score of 141 against 140 for AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, making it 1% faster. The medians are based on 19 and 10 community submissions.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is rated at 95 W and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 at 65 W, so the Ryzen 5 5500 draws 46% less on paper. Rated power is not the same as power drawn in your own workload.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X launched at $249 and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 at $159. Street prices change often, so check a current price before buying.

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

Our gaming score favours the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X (35 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.