Trying to decide the best processor to get can be a daunting task. My Ryzen 7 2700X vs Ryzen 5 3600 comparison guide will provide the relevant information you need to decide the best.
The guide starts with a full, side-by-side specifications comparison of both processors.
Then, it offers a detailed performance comparison of both processors.
Finally, based on the performance, and price, the last section recommends one of the best of the two processors.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600: Number of Cores and Threads
Processor Core is the number of independent central processing units (CPUs) in a single processor chip. The number of CPU cores is an important performance factor.
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Considering other factors, the more cores in a processor chip, the faster the processor’s processing capabilities
Another important performance-determining factor is the number of threads per core. Thread is a term that defines the number of sequences of instructions that a single CPU core can handle. As you may have guessed, the more threads in a processor, the faster the processor.
Ryzen 7 2700X has 8 cores and 16 threads while Ryzen 5 3600 has cored 6 and 12 threads.
For cores and threads, Ryzen 7 2700X is better than Ryzen 5 3600.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600: Maximum Clock Speed
The Maximum Clock Speed of a processor is the rate at which a processor can complete one processing cycle. Based on this definition alone, it is obvious that the more the clock speed (frequency) of a processor, the more processes it can complete in a single processing cycle.
Ryzen 7 2700X has a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz. For, Ryzen 5 3600, it is 3.6 GHz.
However, Ryzen 7 2700X has a maximum speed of 4.3 GHz while Ryzen 5 3600 can go up to 4.2 GHz.
Comparing Ryzen 7 2700X and Ryzen 5 3600 for clock speed, like the CPU Cores and Threads, Ryzen 7 2700X wins the clock speed race.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600: L3 Cache
For a processor to process tasks fast, it requires a fast memory to store and retrieve the next thread. Every processor has 3 levels of fast memory, called Cache – L1, L2, and L3 cache.
The bigger the cache, the more tasks can be stored in it. The more tasks that a processor can store in its cache, the less it will depend on the system memory to get the next task it needs to process.
The implication is that considering all other factors, a processor with more L3 cache will work faster than one with a smaller cache.
Ryzen 7 2700X has an L3 cache of 16 MB while Ryzen 5 3600 has an L3 cache of 32 MB. Ryzen 5 3600 wins in this category.
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600: Max Supported Memory
The memory available to a processor affects the performance of the processor. The Cache in a processor is a memory built into the processor.
However, the processor needs the system memory to feed the Cache the next task in the queue.
Obviously, the more system memory available to a processor, the more it can support the processor. However, this limit is determined by how much memory the processor can support.
Comparing Ryzen 7 2700X and Ryzen 5 3600 for max supported memory, Ryzen 5 3600 wins with its 128 GB max memory support.
My Final Thoughts
This comparison/buying guide evaluated 4 performance features of Ryzen 7 2700X and Ryzen 5 3600.
Out of the 4 features, Ryzen 7 2700X has better CPU Cores and Threads – 8 cores and 16 threads, compared to 6 cores, 12 threads offered by Ryzen 5 3600.
Moreover, Ryzen 7 2700X also offers more processor clock speed – 3.7 GHz, compared to 3.6 GHz for Ryzen 5 3600.
However, AMD Ryzen 5 3600 offers a 32 MB cache, compared to the 16 MB cache offered by AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. Moreover, AMD Ryzen 5 3600 supports more system memory (RAM) – 128 GB, compared to 64 GB max memory for AMD Ryzen 7 2700X.
The 2 features that AMD Ryzen 5 3600 offer more – Cache and System memory has a more direct impact on a processor’s performance. Moreover, compared to AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, AMD Ryzen 5 3600 offers double of these features.
Based on these, I recommend the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor.
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