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Ryzen 5 5600x vs Ryzen 7 3700x: Full Comparison with Specs, Price, and More

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Ryzen 5 5600x vs Ryzen 7 3700x: Full Comparison with Specs, Price, and More

Today we’re going to talk about two of the most competitive budget processors on the market: The Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X. With CPUs of this caliber, you’re able to get a solid mix of performance and value for a lower budget. These processors can claim the title of budget CPU and performance CPU, and it’s all thanks to the new Ryzen platform from AMD

If you have already figured out that you want to go with Ryzen over Intel, then you just need to choose which Ryzen processor is best for you. Both the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X are solid choices for a lot of different uses. Even though they are similar, depending on your needs, one of them may be better than the other.

But just how different are the Ryen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X? And is one really better than the other when it comes to gaming, video editing, or streaming? Today, we are setting out to answer that question with a full side-by-side comparison as well as specs, features, and prices. Then, we’ll go over which one is better and which one you should choose for your next gaming computer.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X offers better raw performance that would take much more power from other processors to match.

Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 3700X: Side-By-Side Comparison

When looking at both processors side-by-side, we get a good idea of some of their similarities and differences. The specs are fairly similar between both models, but what sets the Ryzen 7 3700X apart is the higher core count and thread count.

Ryzen 5 5600XRyzen 7 3700X
Number of Cores:SixEight
Number of Threads:1216
Base Clock Speed:3.70GHz3.60GHz
Boost Clock Speed:4.60GHz4.40GHz
L2 Cache Size:3MB4MB
L3 Cache Size:32MB32MB
Unlocked?:YesYes
TDP Rating:65 Watts65 Watts
Memory Type:DDR4DDR4
PCI Version:PCI-E 4.0PCI-E 4.0
CPU Socket:AM4AM4
CPU Architecture:7NM7NM

As we can see, despite the fact that Ryzen 5 5600X is a little newer, the Ryzen 7 3700X comes loaded with more cores and more multithreading capabilities. The specs don’t always tell the full story. That’s why it’s important to figure out the specific differences and what makes one processor better than the other.

Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 3700X: What’s the Difference?

Top Speeds
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
$151.24
  • 6 cores and 12 processing threads, which provide impressive multitasking capabilities
  • Reaches 100+ FPS
  • The AMD Wraith Stealth cooler is included
  • Supports DDR4 memory, with a max boost of 4.6 GHz and 35 MB of cache
  • Compatible with PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 09:02 pm GMT

When AMD released the Ryzen 7 3700X CPU in the summer of 2019, it was one of their best processors to date. Designed to replace the previous generation Ryzen 7 2700X, which came out a year earlier, the Ryzen 7 3700X came with a number of improvements designed to provide gamers with a more immersive gaming experience. The new Ryzen 7 3700X was also better for streaming and video editing than the previous generation. All in all, the Ryzen 7 3700X was a fine addition to AMD’s higher-end lineup, coming in just under the Ryzen 9 series.

The Ryzen 5 5600X on the other hand, came out in the fall of 2020 and was designed to replace the previous generation Ryzen 5 3600x. AMD set out to build the most powerful budget-friendly processor when they created the Ryzen 5 series, and the Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the best CPUs in this price range. The Ryzen 5 5600X is the answer for those who want to game on a budget, and don’t need the most cutting-edge performance.

The MSRP on launch came in at around $329 for the Ryzen 7 3700X. This is around the same price point as the previous generation, which was also priced at $329 when it was released. The Ryzen 5 5600X launched at a far more reasonable price range, coming in at $199. This is $50 less than the previous generation Ryzen 5 3600X, which came with an MSRP of $249. This lower price makes the Ryzen 5 5600X a particularly attractive value. 

While the Ryzen 7 3700X was based on AMD’s 7nm Zen 2 architecture, the Ryzen 5 5600X came with the new and improved Zen 3 architecture. This newer architecture leads to improvements in performance in certain key areas. The difference in clock speeds can be apparent in some applications as well. While the Ryzen 7 3700X has a base clock speed of just 3.60GHz and a boost of up to 4.40GHz, the Ryzen 5 5600X surpasses it with even higher speeds. 

One of the biggest differences with the new Zen 3 architecture, is that games and applications are given direct access to the L3 cache, allowing more instructions per clock. This makes the Ryzen 5 5600X beat the older Ryzen 7 3700X in key benchmarks.

Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 3700X: What Are the Similarities?

Best for Overall Performance
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Processor
$210.00
  • Excellent piece of hardware
  • Cutting-edge processor for desktop PC gaming rigs
  • Higher clock speeds and more cores
  • Enjoy ultra-fast 100-plus FPS gaming performance
  • Advanced socket AM4 platform supports PCIe 4 0 on x570 motherboard
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 03:32 pm GMT

If you’re trying to decide on which CPU to get, knowing the similarities can help you decide which one is a better deal. With the Ryzen 5 5600X vs the Ryzen 7 3700X, there are a few similarities that you should be aware of.

The first thing to know is that both of these processors share the same socket type: AM4. This is great news if you already have a Ryzen series processor, as you won’t need to upgrade your motherboard. Since all Ryzen series processors, including the Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 3700X, use the AM4 socket type, you don’t have to worry about your motherboard being incompatible. The only thing to keep in mind is that you may need to do a BIOS update first if you are upgrading to a newer CPU.

The Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 3700X are similar in many other ways as well. They both support dual-channel 3200MHz DDR4 RAM, with a total maximum capacity of up to 64GB supported. This is excellent news if you are planning to upgrade your memory in the future, as you can easily support a massive amount of RAM with either of these processors. Just be careful to make sure that you know how much ram your motherboard supports before upgrading, as this number could be lower than your processor’s official limit.

For power consumption, both of these processors are extremely efficient. The Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X both have a maximum TDP rating of just 65 watts. Compared with the closest competitor from Intel, the Core i7-9700K, which has a TDP rating of 95 watts, the Ryzen series CPUs are much more efficient. If you are looking for the most energy-efficient CPU, both the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X would do great.

Which One Is Better For Gaming?

When it comes to good processors for gaming, AMD always provides some good options. The Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X are no exception. Both CPUs are excellent for gaming, exceeding the minimum and recommended requirements for almost every game out there.

But is one better than the other? Should you go with the Ryzen 5 5600X or the Ryzen 7 3700X for your next gaming PC? To answer that question, we compiled benchmarks from some of the most popular games. Running at 1080p resolution at max settings, we still managed to see some impressive results:

Ryzen 5 5600XRyzen 7 3700X
CSGO:310+ FPS233+ FPS
GTA V:101+ FPS105+ FPS
Overwatch:134+ FPS130+ FPS
PUBG:131+ FPS124+ FPS
Fortnite:120+ FPS141+ FPS

As we can see, the Ryzen 5 5600X takes a slight lead in performance on most games. Certain games such as Fortnite, however, seemed to run better on the older Ryzen 7 3700X. Despite these differences, both processors are very similar in performance and provide amazing frame rates and an incredibly responsive gaming experience.

Which One Should You Choose?

Top Speeds
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
$151.24
  • 6 cores and 12 processing threads, which provide impressive multitasking capabilities
  • Reaches 100+ FPS
  • The AMD Wraith Stealth cooler is included
  • Supports DDR4 memory, with a max boost of 4.6 GHz and 35 MB of cache
  • Compatible with PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 09:02 pm GMT
Best for Overall Performance
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Processor
$210.00
  • Excellent piece of hardware
  • Cutting-edge processor for desktop PC gaming rigs
  • Higher clock speeds and more cores
  • Enjoy ultra-fast 100-plus FPS gaming performance
  • Advanced socket AM4 platform supports PCIe 4 0 on x570 motherboard
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 03:32 pm GMT

Although there are much better processors from AMD such as the Ryzen 9 5900X, or anything from the Ryzen 9 series or Threadripper series, there are no better value processors. If you are looking for a budget-friendly processor, there are no other value processors on the market that come close to these in terms of performance for your money.

The differences between the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X are so minor, that most gamers won’t notice them. Only the truly discerning gamer or enthusiast will be able to pick up the difference in frame rates in the most popular games. With performance levels so close for these two processors, it all comes down to price.

When deciding between the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X, the winner is the newer and less expensive Ryzen 5 5600X. The new Zen 3 architecture offers notable improvements all while keeping the same low power consumption. If you already have a Ryzen 7 3700X, it is not worth upgrading just to get a slight improvement. If you are running an older Ryzen 5 or even a Ryzen 3, it definitely makes sense to upgrade to the Ryzen 5 5600X.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much better is Ryzen 7 than 5?

Typically, the Ryzen 7 series is faster than the Ryzen 5 series. The fact that we are comparing a newer Ryzen 5 to an older Ryzen 7 means that this particular Ryzen 5 is actually about 16% faster.

What is the difference between the Ryzen 5 5600x and Ryzen 7 3700x?

While the Ryzen 7 3700X is based on the older Zen 2 architecture, the Ryzen 5 5600X is based on the newer Zen 3 architecture. This newer hardware leads to an increased level of performance and higher benchmark ratings across the board.

Which is faster, the Ryzen 5 5600x or the Ryzen 7 3700x?

Thanks to its newer architecture and higher clock speeds, the Ryzen 5 5600X comes in slightly faster than the Ryzen 7 3700X. It does all of this while being substantially less expensive as well, with an MSRP of just $199 at launch.

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