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.

Ryzen 3 7320U

2022

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,907 vs 9,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +55.5% higher average FPS across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
✅500% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 7320U.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 7320U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 7320U moves to FT6 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 7320U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 3 7320U

2022

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 610M, while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +55.5% higher average FPS across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).
✅500% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 7320U.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 46 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (4,907 vs 9,500).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Ryzen 3 7320U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 7320U moves to FT6 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 3 7320U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Ryzen 3 7320U?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 55.5% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data, 93.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 105.0% higher PassMark, 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 55.5% more average FPS across 46 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 93.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 700% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 4 MB).

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 $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 55.5% average FPS lead across 46 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 3 7320U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with FT6 and DDR5 instead of AM4. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

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.

Ryzen 3 7320U Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 3600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 3 7320U	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	168 FPS	200 FPS
medium	134 FPS	161 FPS
high	108 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	154 FPS
medium	111 FPS	119 FPS
high	88 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	65 FPS	70 FPS
medium	55 FPS	58 FPS
high	43 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	36 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 7320U Open Ryzen 5 3600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 3 7320U	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	216 FPS	442 FPS
medium	216 FPS	404 FPS
high	200 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	295 FPS
1440p
low	216 FPS	420 FPS
medium	195 FPS	359 FPS
high	177 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	151 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	171 FPS	297 FPS
medium	151 FPS	259 FPS
high	124 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	105 FPS	201 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 7320U Open Ryzen 5 3600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 3 7320U	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	216 FPS	442 FPS
medium	216 FPS	442 FPS
high	216 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	216 FPS	442 FPS
medium	216 FPS	442 FPS
high	216 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	432 FPS
4K
low	216 FPS	442 FPS
medium	216 FPS	361 FPS
high	216 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	242 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 7320U Open Ryzen 5 3600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 3 7320U	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	216 FPS	442 FPS
medium	216 FPS	442 FPS
high	216 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	216 FPS	442 FPS
medium	216 FPS	442 FPS
high	216 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	442 FPS
4K
low	216 FPS	442 FPS
medium	216 FPS	442 FPS
high	216 FPS	413 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	357 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 7320U Open Ryzen 5 3600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 3 7320U and Ryzen 5 3600

Ryzen 3 7320U

The Ryzen 3 7320U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 8,627 points. Launch price was $149.

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 Ryzen 3 7320U packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 3 7320U versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 3 7320U uses the Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) architecture (6 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 7320U scores 8,627 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 68.9% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 4,907 vs 9,500 (63.8% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,213 vs 1,295, a 6.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 3,589 vs 1,898 (61.6% advantage for the Ryzen 3 7320U). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 7320U vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Ryzen 3 7320U	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.1 GHz	4.2 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.6 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+700%
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	6 nm-14%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	8,627	17,685+105%
Cinebench R23 Multi	4,907	9,500+94%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,213	1,295+7%
Geekbench 6 Multi	3,589+89%	1,898

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 7320U uses the FT6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-5500 on the Ryzen 3 7320U versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 3 7320U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Ryzen 3 7320U) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT6 (Ryzen 3 7320U) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Ryzen 3 7320U	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	FT6	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	LPDDR5-5500+25%	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	128 GB+700%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	4	24+500%

🔧

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 (Ryzen 3 7320U) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Ryzen 3 7320U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 610M), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 3 7320U targets Budget, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 3 7320U rivals Core i3-1215U; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.