AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Tech Specs Tech Specs

Performance Performance

Price History Price History

Reviews Reviews

Compare Compare

AMD Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 really is the go to processor right now. We’d even recommend skipping over the 3700X, purely for gaming, as high performance 8-core/16-thread processors won’t be fully leveraged in games any time soon and the $130 you save now, can go towards an upgrade when you actually need it, many years down the track.
- As reviewed by TechSpot on Aug 2019
6
Cores
12
Threads
3.6 GHz
Base Clock
4.2 GHz
Boost Clock
Socket AM4
Socket
65 W
TDP
No iGPU
Graphics
$66
Price
Release date:Jul 7, 2019Price at Launch:$199
Cores:6Threads:12
Base Clock:3.6 GHzBoost Clock:4.2 GHz
Type:DesktopMultithreading:Yes
L2 Cache:3 MBL3 Cache:32 MB
Box Cooler:YesTDP:65 W
Socket:Socket AM4Memory Support:DDR4-3200
Codename:Matisse (Zen 2)Process Size:7 nm
Integrated Graphics:NoNPU:No
PCIe Support:PCIe 4.0, 24 Lanes
Best CPUs 2021
Best CPUs 2021
Chosen by our editors as one of
the best products in its category
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
A newer model is available:
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Performance Benchmarks

All benchmark data reflects aggregated results from dozens of tests conducted in TechSpot’s labs and compiled from our full library of CPU reviews. Single-core productivity scores are based primarily on Cinebench and Adobe Photoshop workloads. Multi-core results draw from Cinebench, Blender, Corona Benchmark, 7-Zip, Adobe Premiere Pro, and shader compilation tests. CPU gaming benchmarks are all 1080p runs (explainer) as published on TechSpot.

Single-Core Productivity

Multi-Core Productivity

Gaming Performance

Price History

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 pricing

Last 6 months
Price Date
Current $66 Dec 15, 2025
Highest* $82 Dec 15, 2024
Lowest* $69 Oct 30, 2025
Average $77
* Prices are based on listings from Newegg and other major retailers over the past 12+ months.
TechSpot is supported by its audience. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Learn more here.

Reviews and Ratings

94

Average Score

Based on 12 reviews

9.6

User Score

Based on 44,783 reviews

Reviewers Liked

  • Beats Intel Core i5-9600K in applications, almost matches 8700K and 9700K
  • Gaming performance significantly improved, 10% over the previous generation
  • Affordable
  • Supports existing AM4 motherboards

Reviewers Didn't Like

  • Still not as fast as Intel in gaming
  • PBO and manual overclocking yield no significant gains
  • No integrated graphics

Ryzen 5 3600 vs. Ryzen 5 5600: Upgrade or Not?
For Zen 2 owners running something like the Ryzen 5 3600, it's less obvious what you should do though, and in many instances the upgrade for the 5600 isn't worth it. But again, that will depend on the games you're playing and how you play them, so that will be for you to work out.

By TechSpot on

Is Zen 3 Worth It for Gaming? Ryzen 5600X vs. 3600 vs. Core i5-10400F:
Take the Ryzen 5 5600X vs. Ryzen 7 5800X comparison for example. The 8-core processor costs $150 more, so a 50% premium for 33% more cores. Yet the biggest margin we've been able to find in any game was 8% in Death Stranding at 1080p, with an RTX 3090... just 8%.

By TechSpot on

Ryzen 3 vs. Ryzen 5 vs. Ryzen 7 vs. Ryzen 9:
As we saw in the application benchmarks, the Ryzen 9 3900X is the sweet spot for those seeking strong performance, while the Ryzen 5 3600 is a great budget alternative. The Ryzen 7 3700X is, of course, faster than the 6-core model, but the cost increase is higher than the performance you receive in return, which is why we feel the R5 3600 is a better all-rounder.

By TechSpot on

Intel Core i5-10400 vs. AMD Ryzen 5 3600:
As you just witnessed, when it comes to gaming performance the Core i5 processor is roughly on par with the 3600, while for productivity tasks AMD's offering is often up to 10% faster while consuming a similar level of power. If you will be adding a graphics card to your build, then the slightly less expensive i5-10400F should prove a better value.

By TechSpot on
85

Intel Core i5-10600K vs. AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs. Ryzen 7 3700X:
If you're seeking maximum value – for both gaming and application tasks – then it's very difficult to ignore the Ryzen 5 3600 at just $175, that's an incredible deal which sees the 10600K cost 60% more, while offering a minor 6% speed bump in 1080p gaming.

By TechSpot on

Ryzen 5 3600 vs. R5 2600:
Bottom line, the Ryzen 5 3600 is clearly the faster processor and we love it for the solid performance it offers for gaming and productivity tasks. But if you're looking to get the most bang for your buck, the discounted 2nd-gen parts are the way to go.

By TechSpot on

The Ryzen 5 3600 really is the go to processor right now. We’d even recommend skipping over the 3700X, purely for gaming, as high performance 8-core/16-thread processors won’t be fully leveraged in games any time soon and the $130 you save now, can go towards an upgrade when you actually need it, many years down the track.

By TechSpot on

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs. Intel Core i5-9400F: Mainstream Titans Clash:
But back to today's comparison, the Ryzen 5 3600 destroys the Core i5-9400F in core-heavy games and applications. It currently costs 33% more, but it was often 50% faster in applications and provided roughly 30% gains in modern games.

By TechSpot on
100

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Review: Best All-Round Value CPU:
But as we alluded to a moment ago, even for those building a new PC from the ground up, the R5 3600 looks like the best option. It smoked the Core i5-9600K in every single application benchmark we ran and worst case matches its single core performance. You get 12 threads opposed to just 6, so it’s no doubt going to age better, but this time you don’t have to roll the dice on Ryzen's longevity, as it’s already faster today.

By TechSpot on
90

The Ryzen 5 3600 is an excellent 65W chip for small form factor enthusiasts, packing quite the punch in a small thermal envelope. After simple one-click overclocking, it offers nearly the same performance as its more expensive counterpart, but at a $50...

By Tom's Hardware UK on
90

There are many great processors in the 3rd Generation Ryzen range but we think that the Ryzen 5 3600 hits the price performance sweet spot perfectly. It's an extremely capable, affordable processor that shows just how far AMD have come in recent years. A triumph.

By OC3D on
100

The price-to-performance value of the Ryzen 5 3600 is crazy to see, especially when it stacks up against CPUs more than twice its price in gaming. All of the new Ryzen 3000-series CPUs we've tested have offered similar levels of performance in gaming,...

By TechRadar on
Load More Reviews…

Our readers are also looking into these CPUs...