Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 3600X: Is Premium Worth It in 2021?

The Ryzen 2000 series is nearly here, and with it comes an updated line-up of AMD’s most sought after processors. Meet the Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X, the two new members of the Ryzen 5 family. Based on AMD’s Zen+ architecture, these new processors are headed for the desktop market, and they’re the first to use the new AMD X570 chipset. With this new platform, AMD hopes to finally deliver on the promise of high-end desktop performance with the additional features the enthusiast market has long desired.

Last week, AMD showed the world the results of its latest round of server tests, where it used six Intel Xeon Platinum 8180 processors to push data through 12 virtual machines in its “Celeron” benchmark. These are the first results AMD has released in regards to its new “Ryzen 3000” line of chips, which are typically found in high-end desktops, but will soon appear in laptops, too. AMD’s Ryzen 3000 CPUs are the first in the market to use two “Zen 2” cores and will be available in a variety of different models and configurations.

Both CPUs are based on the new Zen 2 microarchitecture and both claim to offer better performance than the previous generation. However, this is where the similarities end. The Ryzen 5 3600X uses a significantly smaller and less demanding 10-core design and its base and turbo clock speeds of 3.8 GHz and 4.0 GHz are lower than those of its 1500X sibling. The Ryzen 3600X also sports lower TDP and requires a chipset with a lot more PCIe lanes than the Ryzen 5 3600 CPU.. Read more about ryzen 5 3600x in 2021 and let us know what you think.

If you’ve been looking to construct a decent gaming PC, it’s fair to assume that selecting the appropriate CPU has always been one of your top priorities. That’s how it should be. Choosing the wrong processor may cause you more problems than you realize. The AMD 3600 Ryzen 5 or 3600X Ryzen 5 processors are now one of the most popular gaming CPUs on the market.

These processors are flying off the shelves, and a quick check at Amazon will reveal just how popular they have become. So, what seems to be the issue? The issue is that most individuals don’t know where to begin when it comes to understanding the distinctions between these chips.

Even though they are extremely similar and belong to the same socket, they will now compete for your attention whenever you attempt to make a choice. We’ll break down the differences between the 3600 Ryzen 5 and the 3600X Ryzen 5 to make things simpler for you.

The goal is to cover all of the fundamentals so you don’t end up purchasing something that isn’t exactly what you were searching for.

The Rules of Engagement

Let’s start by getting the obvious out of the way by going through the specs of each of the CPUs we’ll be looking at. That way, we’ll at least know what you’re putting yourself into. Once we’ve gotten them out of the way, there won’t be anything to worry about since everything else will be similar.

After looking at the specifications, it’s fair to conclude that the two CPUs are a lot more comparable than one would assume. The difference between the base and boost clocks on both CPUs is just 200Mhz, with the Ryzen 5 3600X being faster.

Furthermore, the Ryzen 5 3600X has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 95W, which is greater than the Ryzen 5 3600. However, according to many test results accessible on the internet, a simple stress test intended to put both CPUs under the same strain would result in the Ryzen 3 3600 using just 4% less power than the Ryzen 3 3600X.

This implies that the Ryzen 5 3600 would use 140 watts instead of the Ryzen 5 3600X’s 146 watts. Needless to say, things aren’t looking good for the Ryzen 5 3600X, and despite the fact that the price difference is just $50, there’s still more to learn.

Gaming Capabilities

I can tell you right now that both of these CPUs will be excellent for productivity activities as well, although most people have been purchasing them for gaming purposes. After all, obtaining 6 cores and 12 threads for such a low price is something that even we are interested in.

So, how do they do in terms of gaming? We looked at a lot of comparisons and, due to HardwareUnboxed, we were able to figure out what the differences are between these CPUs. The GPU used to test the games was an RTX 2080 Ti, and the resolution was set to 1080p since it is the most typical option for most people to game on, and it also removed any bottleneck.

The findings are very unexpected, and you can see some of the most popular games’ benchmarks below.

The difference is there in front of you, and I’m not even going to advise you to look carefully since the difference is so small to begin with. Granted, the Ryzen 5 3600X has a little edge because to its higher clock speeds, but it is so minor that you will hardly notice.

If you’re just purchasing one of these processors for gaming, you should simply shut your eyes and go with the Ryzen 5 3600 and save the money for a game on Steam or something else, since investing more money isn’t worth it.

What About Productivity, though?

If you’re expecting to utilize these CPUs for productivity and hope that the Ryzen 5 3600X would outperform them, don’t hold your breath. Granted, the Ryzen 5 3600X regularly outperforms the competition in productivity activities, but the “better” here only translates to a few extra points, which isn’t enough to make a difference.

Still don’t trust us? Take a look at the table below for further information.

Yes, I realize that the Ryzen 5 3600X scores are higher, but it’s also essential to note that the difference is tiny at best, and you won’t be able to set any new speed records with such a little difference.

The difference is so tiny that you will virtually never notice it, which is why the Ryzen 5 3600 is a tempting option here rather than paying the additional money.

Thermal Efficiency

Thermals, or the heat produced by CPUs, are affected by a variety of variables that may cause them to rise or decrease. As a consequence, when comparing two CPUs, it’s critical to test them under the identical conditions, or else you’ll receive inconsistent results, which isn’t helpful for the comparison.

We used the identical setup and stock coolers that came with both coolers to compare the CPUs. In our tests, the Ryzen 5 3600 reached 81 degrees Celsius, while the Ryzen 5 3600X reached 78 degrees. Now, the reason for this disparity is because the latter comes with a superior cooler as well.

You may switch the coolers and observe how the results on the less expensive version improve. This implies that if both coolers are used, the performance will be almost identical. The purpose of this comparison is to help you understand the premium you’re paying, and after doing so, it seems that the Ryzen 5 3600X costs more since it comes with a better cooler.

Performance of Overclocking

Now, when it comes to the overclocking capability of both CPUs, it’s essential to remember that the Ryzen 5 3600X’s greatest advantage is that it will be better at overclocking. Why? Because it is a specifically binned variant of the 3600, it should have superior overclocking performance.

While the official statement makes logic, experienced overclockers from across the globe have determined after many testing that both the Ryzen 5 3600X and Ryzen 5 3600 can only go up to 4.3GHz in overclocking. This implies that if you buy the Ryzen 5 3600X only for the purpose of improving overclocking performance, you will be dissatisfied since it simply does not deliver.

So, what distinguishes these processors from one another?

I’ve been looking through the findings for both processors that we were able to get. The $50 premium for the Ryzen 5 3600X seemed a bit flimsy at first, since you can’t make a lot of improvements at that price. Following additional examination of both CPUs, here are some factors that make the Ryzen 5 3600 a more appealing choice.

• The Ryzen 5 3600X is an overclocked variant of the Ryzen 5 3600 that comes with a better cooling. With an aftermarket cooler, the Ryzen 5 3600 may attain the similar performance.
• Both the Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X overclock and peak out at around the same frequency, thus buying the additional $50 is pointless.
• Although the Ryzen 5 3600 produces greater heat than the Ryzen 5 3600X, this is due to a cooler that is fundamentally inferior to the Ryzen 5 3600X. When you add an aftermarket cooler, you can solve this problem.
• Both the Ryzen 5 3600 and the Ryzen 5 3600X have extremely comparable power consumption, to the point that you won’t be able to tell them apart.
• Memory overclocking is similar on both CPUs, with minor variations.
• Although the Ryzen 5 3600X has a little higher base clock, it nevertheless delivers the same performance.
• If you have the proper cooler and airflow, both CPUs can maintain reasonable temps.

The reason I separated these ideas from the conclusion is because they will aid in your comprehension. Simply based on these considerations, the Ryzen 5 3600 emerges as a viable option. If you’re on a budget, use that $50 on a more powerful CPU cooling and you’ll be OK.

Final Thoughts

To be honest, many people’s conclusions are much easier after trying both CPUs. If you’re searching for a new mid-range gaming CPU that provides both excellent performance and fantastic value for money, the Ryzen 5 3600 over the 3600X is a no-brainer.

Additionally, you will see the Ryzen 5 3600 go on sale more often than its elder sibling, so you may be able to find a good bargain on the market.

If you’re wondering why the 3600X exists at all, we’re just as perplexed as you are. It may just be jargon used to deceive consumers into paying a greater price for essentially the same service. You may use the $50 premium to purchase a different component or a game from your preferred platform.

The performance difference is little, to say the least, but if you want your Ryzen 5 3600 to perform as well as its older sibling, all you have to do is spend $50 on a quality air cooler and slightly overclock the CPU, and you’ll have the same performance across the board.

We hope that this test clears up any misunderstandings you may have regarding both processors, since we had them as well, and thorough testing was required to show what was going on.

Also see:

Best Ryzen 5 3600 Motherboards Intel i5 9600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600: Which GPU is Best?

If you’re looking to build a new PC this year, you’ll find it hard to find a mainstream processor that doesn’t come with an Intel or AMD’s latest and greatest chip. However, the choice of processor is only one of the battlefields where you’ll need to choose a side, as the other battlefields are about to be taken over by AMD. The first horse is the Ryzen 5 3600X, which doesn’t support overclocking. The Ryzen 3 3600X, on the other hand, does. But what about Ryzen 5 3600? Will it be able to compete with the new Intel Core i7-9700K? Let’s find out.. Read more about best ryzens and let us know what you think.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ryzen 5 3600X worth it in 2021?

Ryzen 5 3600X is worth it in 2021.

Is Ryzen 5 3600 better than 3600X?

Ryzen 5 3600 is a six-core processor with a base clock of 3.6GHz and a boost clock of 4.2GHz, whereas the 3600X has eight cores with a base clock of 3.8GHz and a boost clock of 4.4GHz.

Is Ryzen 5 3600XT still good?

Yes, the Ryzen 5 3600XT is still a good CPU.