PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

A12-9800

2017

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,695 vs 17,685).

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +197.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while A12-9800 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while A12-9800 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

A12-9800

2017

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon R7, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +197.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅200% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,695 vs 17,685).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while A12-9800 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while A12-9800 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than A12-9800?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 197.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 378.6% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 197.8% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better fit. You are getting 378.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 5 3600 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 3600 is at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 197.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 3600 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

A12-9800 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 3600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	A12-9800	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	92 FPS	200 FPS
medium	92 FPS	161 FPS
high	92 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	154 FPS
medium	92 FPS	119 FPS
high	92 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	70 FPS
medium	58 FPS	58 FPS
high	45 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	36 FPS

Open A12-9800 Open Ryzen 5 3600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	A12-9800	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	92 FPS	442 FPS
medium	92 FPS	404 FPS
high	92 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	295 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	420 FPS
medium	92 FPS	359 FPS
high	92 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	297 FPS
medium	92 FPS	259 FPS
high	92 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	201 FPS

Open A12-9800 Open Ryzen 5 3600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	A12-9800	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	92 FPS	442 FPS
medium	92 FPS	442 FPS
high	92 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	442 FPS
medium	92 FPS	442 FPS
high	92 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	432 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	442 FPS
medium	92 FPS	361 FPS
high	92 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	242 FPS

Open A12-9800 Open Ryzen 5 3600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	A12-9800	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	92 FPS	442 FPS
medium	92 FPS	442 FPS
high	92 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	442 FPS
medium	92 FPS	442 FPS
high	92 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	442 FPS
4K
low	92 FPS	442 FPS
medium	92 FPS	442 FPS
high	92 FPS	413 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	357 FPS

Open A12-9800 Open Ryzen 5 3600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of A12-9800 and Ryzen 5 3600

A12-9800

The A12-9800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,695 points. Launch price was $139.

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

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Processing Power

The A12-9800 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the A12-9800 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The A12-9800 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9800 scores 3,695 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 130.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 635 vs 1,295, a 68.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A12-9800 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	A12-9800	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+6%	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2048 kB+300%	512K (per core)
Process	28 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-75%
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	3,695	17,685+379%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	635	1,295+104%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,898

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9800) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	A12-9800	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	128 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	24+200%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A12-9800) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The A12-9800 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800 targets Budget, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: A12-9800 rivals Pentium G4600; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.