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.

FX-6120

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $141 less on MSRP ($188 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,853 vs 22,430).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.5 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($188 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +320.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 232.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $188 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
75% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$188 MSRP

FX-6120

2012

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $141 less on MSRP ($188 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +320.6% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 232.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 20.5 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $188 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,853 vs 22,430).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 20.5 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($188 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Trade-offs

❌
75% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$188 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than FX-6120?

Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 320.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 482.1% 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 7 3700X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 320.6% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 3700X is the better fit. You are getting 482.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Ryzen 7 3700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 3700X is 75.0% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $188 MSRP, and it gives you a 320.6% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 232.7% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 20.5 PassMark/$), 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 7 3700X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2012), 300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/6. 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.

FX-6120 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 3700X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	FX-6120	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	96 FPS	200 FPS
medium	96 FPS	163 FPS
high	96 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	96 FPS	156 FPS
medium	96 FPS	121 FPS
high	94 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	84 FPS
medium	57 FPS	71 FPS
high	45 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	36 FPS	44 FPS

Open FX-6120 Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	FX-6120	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	96 FPS	561 FPS
medium	96 FPS	525 FPS
high	96 FPS	428 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	383 FPS
1440p
low	96 FPS	545 FPS
medium	96 FPS	471 FPS
high	96 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	96 FPS	350 FPS
medium	96 FPS	304 FPS
high	96 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	242 FPS

Open FX-6120 Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	FX-6120	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	96 FPS	561 FPS
medium	96 FPS	561 FPS
high	96 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	96 FPS	561 FPS
medium	96 FPS	561 FPS
high	96 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	470 FPS
4K
low	96 FPS	499 FPS
medium	96 FPS	394 FPS
high	96 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	275 FPS

Open FX-6120 Open Ryzen 7 3700X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	FX-6120	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	96 FPS	561 FPS
medium	96 FPS	561 FPS
high	96 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	96 FPS	561 FPS
medium	96 FPS	561 FPS
high	96 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	96 FPS	561 FPS
medium	96 FPS	501 FPS
high	96 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	396 FPS

Open FX-6120 Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of FX-6120 and Ryzen 7 3700X

FX-6120

The FX-6120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,853 points. Launch price was $69.

Ryzen 7 3700X

The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. 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: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.

⚡

Processing Power

The FX-6120 packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the FX-6120 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The FX-6120 uses the Zambezi (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the FX-6120 scores 3,853 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 141.4% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the FX-6120 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	FX-6120	Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads	6 / 6	8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz	4.4 GHz+5%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	32 MB+300%
L2 Cache	6 MB+1100%	512K (per core)
Process	32 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-78%
Architecture	Zambezi (2011−2012)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	3,853	22,430+482%

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Memory & Platform

The FX-6120 uses the AM3+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	FX-6120	Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket	AM3+	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	24

💰

Value Analysis

The FX-6120 launched at $188 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. On MSRP ($188 vs $329), the FX-6120 is $141 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the FX-6120 delivers 20.5 pts/$ vs 68.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 107.5% better value option.