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Abde Manaf

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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With AMD’s release of the Ryzen processors, there have been numerous variants under the Ryzen name with different architectures. Today, we’re going to compare two of the mid-range offerings from AMD, precisely the Ryzen 5 5600X vs the Ryzen 7 3700X, and highlight their key similarities and differences.

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Process Node & Architecture: The Ryzen 5 5600X is based on the Zen-3 architecture whereas the Ryzen 7 3700X is based on the Zen-2 architecture. Both CPUs are based on TSMC’s 7nm process node.
2. Clock Speeds: The Ryzen 5 5600X has a base frequency of 3.7 GHz which can be ramped up to 4.6 GHz. In contrast, the Ryzen 7 3700X comes with a base clock of 3.6 GHz which can be sped up to 4.4 GHz.
3. Cache: Both the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X have the same amount of Cache, with their L1 cache being 64 KB (per core), and L2 cache being 512 KB (per core), and L3 cache being 32 MB.
4. Memory Support & Socket Support: Both CPUs support DDR4 memory with maximum speed reaching up to 3200 MT/s. They both support AMD’s AM4 socket.
5. TDP & PCIe: Both processors arrive with a TDP rating of 65W. Both the CPUs rock a PCIe Gen 4 with the Ryzen 5 5600X having 20 lanes and the Ryzen 7 3700X having 24 lanes (CPU only).

Ryzen 5 5600X Vs Ryzen 7 3700X: Gaming Benchmarks At 1080p

We’ll now put the two processors to the test to reveal their respective values that will determine their performance in the real world.

Testing Rig

• MOBO: ASRock X570 Taichi 
• Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro (2x16GB) – 3200MHz
• Graphics Card: MSI GeForce RTX 3090 
• Storage Drive: XPG Gammix S70 Blade 2TB NVMe
• Power Supply: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W 
• Cooler: Fractal Design Lumen S36 RGB AIO 

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• In our first game, we saw that the Ryzen 5 5600X obtained an average of 62.9 FPS. In contrast, the Ryzen 7 3700X displayed an average of 42.9 FPS – showcasing a 37.8% difference.
• The average 1% lows reached 52.6 FPS gained by the Ryzen 5 5600X. Whereas, the Ryzen 7 3700X managed to reach 36 FPS. 

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

• Here, we noticed the difference was minimal with the Ryzen 5 5600X averaging 102.9 FPS over Ryzen 7 3700X’s 99.8 FPS. This equates to a difference of no more than 3%.
• Much similar to the average FPS, the 1% lows were minimal as well with the Ryzen 5 5600X gaining 73 FPS over its rival’s 70.8 FPS.

Death Stranding

• In Death Stranding, we saw a larger margin where the Ryzen 5 5600X outperformed the Ryzen 7 3700X by almost 20% after achieving an average of 220.6 FPS over 180.5 FPS, respectively. 
• Regarding the 1% lows, the Ryzen 5 5600X displayed an average of 154.8 FPS. On the other hand, the Ryzen 7 3700X showed an average of 131.6 FPS.

Battlefield V

• Here again, the difference is minimal with the Ryzen 5 5600X obtaining an average of 199.7 FPS over the Ryzen 7 3700X’s 198.3 FPS – highlighting an insignificant difference of under 1%. 
• As for the 1% lows, the Ryzen 7 3700X beat Ryzen 5 5600X with a single frame by acquiring 125.2 FPS over 5600X’s 124 FPS.

Far Cry New Dawn

• In our last game, we observed that the Ryzen 5 5600X outperformed the Ryzen 7 3700X yet again by averaging 130 FPS over 3700X’s 111.1 FPS – gaining a 15.67% edge over its counterpart.
• In terms of 1% lows, the Ryzen 7 3700X reached 85.25 FPS. Whereas, the Ryzen 7 3700X performed with an average of 77 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

We noticed that the Ryzen 5 5600X rose victorious over the Ryzen 7 3700X by 12.38% as it acquired 143.27 FPS. Whereas, the Ryzen 7 3700X performed with 126.56 FPS across the five games. The 1% lows of the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3700X were 97.9 FPS and 88.15 FPS, respectively.

Power Consumption

We also observed that the Ryzen 5 5600X consumed 159W of power in its stock settings and it ramped up to 190W when it was overclocked. In contrast, the Ryzen 7 3700X showed a power consumption of 180W when stock and 186W when overclocked. This makes the Ryzen 5 5600X 12.38% a more power-efficient option.

Thermal Performance

Speaking of the CPU temperature, the Ryzen 7 3700X was only a little warmer by a few degrees, operating at 64°C over the Ryzen 5 5600X which operated at 60°C, showcasing merely a 6.45% difference. When overclocked, the results are opposite – with the Ryzen 5 5600X reaching 76°C whereas the Ryzen 7 3700X remained at 66°C.

Pricing And Availability

The price of both the processors has been reduced, where the Ryzen 5 5600X is now 65.5% cheaper and the Ryzen 7 3700X is now 42.3% cheaper. Comparing the current prices of both CPUs, we see that the Ryzen 5 5600X is 33.8% cheaper than the Ryzen 7 3700X. Both have wide availability and can also be found in bundle deals as pre-build PCs.

Ryzen 7 3700X Vs Ryzen 5 5600X: Which One Do We Recommend? 

After reviewing the key differences in detail, it is time to wrap things up with a conclusion, which here is definite.

It is evident that the newer gen Ryzen 5 5600X not only performed better than the older gen counterpart, but it also showed better power and thermal efficiency. Additionally, AMD has packed all this goodness with a lower price point – making it an ideal option for you to get which is why we recommend you get the Ryzen 5 5600X as soon as you can.

Pros And Cons 

More From Ryzen 5 5600X

• Core i5 12600K vs Ryzen 5 5600X
• Core i9-12900k-vs-Ryzen 9 5900X 
• Core i3 12100F vs Ryzen 5 5600X

More From Ryzen 7 3700X

• Ryzen 7 3700X vs Ryzen 5 3600
• Core i7-8700k vs Ryzen 7 3700X

Abde Manaf

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com