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 8300G

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $23 less on MSRP ($176 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,113 vs 17,685).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 80.2 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($176 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 10.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 80.2 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $176 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 8300G.

Trade-offs

❌
13.1% HIGHER MSRP
$199 MSRPvs$176 MSRP
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 8300G moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Ryzen 3 8300G

2024

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $23 less on MSRP ($176 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Newer platform on AM5 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +7.2% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Delivers 10.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 88.9 vs 80.2 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $176 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 3 8300G.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,113 vs 17,685).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 80.2 vs 88.9 PassMark/$ ($176 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Trade-offs

❌
13.1% HIGHER MSRP
$199 MSRPvs$176 MSRP
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 3 8300G moves to AM5 and DDR5.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Ryzen 3 8300G?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 7.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 25.3% better 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 7.2% more average FPS across 50 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 25.3% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 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 5 3600 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 3600 is 13.1% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $176 MSRP, and it gives you a 7.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 10.8% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 80.2 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM5 + DDR5 setup, Ryzen 3 8300G can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

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

Ryzen 3 8300G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2019) and a healthier platform with AM5 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 8300G Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 3600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 3 8300G	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	262 FPS	200 FPS
medium	232 FPS	161 FPS
high	199 FPS	135 FPS
ultra	168 FPS	106 FPS
1440p
low	229 FPS	154 FPS
medium	184 FPS	119 FPS
high	152 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	75 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	70 FPS
medium	129 FPS	58 FPS
high	99 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	86 FPS	36 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 8300G Open Ryzen 5 3600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 3 8300G	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	347 FPS	442 FPS
medium	280 FPS	404 FPS
high	245 FPS	332 FPS
ultra	206 FPS	295 FPS
1440p
low	286 FPS	420 FPS
medium	238 FPS	359 FPS
high	214 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	176 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	212 FPS	297 FPS
medium	183 FPS	259 FPS
high	153 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	201 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 8300G Open Ryzen 5 3600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 3 8300G	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	353 FPS	442 FPS
medium	353 FPS	442 FPS
high	353 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	353 FPS	442 FPS
medium	353 FPS	442 FPS
high	353 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	432 FPS
4K
low	353 FPS	442 FPS
medium	353 FPS	361 FPS
high	352 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	292 FPS	242 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 8300G Open Ryzen 5 3600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 3 8300G	Ryzen 5 3600
1080p
low	353 FPS	442 FPS
medium	353 FPS	442 FPS
high	353 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	442 FPS
1440p
low	353 FPS	442 FPS
medium	353 FPS	442 FPS
high	353 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	442 FPS
4K
low	353 FPS	442 FPS
medium	353 FPS	442 FPS
high	353 FPS	413 FPS
ultra	353 FPS	357 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 8300G Open Ryzen 5 3600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 3 8300G and Ryzen 5 3600

Ryzen 3 8300G

The Ryzen 3 8300G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix2 (2024) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 14,113 points. Launch price was $176.

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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 3 8300G 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 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 3 8300G versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 8300G (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 3 8300G uses the Phoenix2 (2024) architecture (4 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 8300G scores 14,113 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 22.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 8300G vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Ryzen 3 8300G	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz+17%	4.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz	3.6 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	32 MB (total)+300%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	4 nm-43%	7 nm, 12 nm
Architecture	Phoenix2 (2024)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	14,113	17,685+25%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,295
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,898

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 3 8300G uses the AM5 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Ryzen 3 8300G	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	AM5	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	24

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 3 8300G) / Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Ryzen 3 8300G	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	—	No
Unlocked	—	Yes
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	Yes
Target Use	—	Gaming/Budget Workstation

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 3 8300G launched at $176 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($176 vs $199), the Ryzen 3 8300G is $23 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 3 8300G delivers 80.2 pts/$ vs 88.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 10.3% better value option.