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 5 2500X

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,388 vs 22,430).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 59.0 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($159 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +59.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 15.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 59.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌
106.9% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$159 MSRP

Ryzen 5 2500X

2018

Ryzen 7 3700X

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $170 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +59.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅Delivers 15.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 59.0 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
✅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 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (9,388 vs 22,430).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 59.0 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($159 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌
106.9% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$159 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Ryzen 5 2500X?

Yes. Ryzen 7 3700X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 59.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 138.9% 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 59.5% 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 7 3700X is the better fit. You are getting 138.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 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 106.9% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $159 MSRP, and it gives you a 59.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 15.5% better value on MSRP (68.2 vs 59.0 PassMark/$), 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 7 3700X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018), 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 4/8. 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.

Ryzen 5 2500X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 7 3700X Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 2500X	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	219 FPS	200 FPS
medium	187 FPS	163 FPS
high	151 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	108 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	182 FPS	156 FPS
medium	149 FPS	121 FPS
high	117 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	80 FPS
4K
low	71 FPS	84 FPS
medium	62 FPS	71 FPS
high	49 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	44 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 2500X Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 2500X	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	235 FPS	561 FPS
medium	209 FPS	525 FPS
high	187 FPS	428 FPS
ultra	146 FPS	383 FPS
1440p
low	216 FPS	545 FPS
medium	188 FPS	471 FPS
high	166 FPS	394 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	337 FPS
4K
low	156 FPS	350 FPS
medium	138 FPS	304 FPS
high	113 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	242 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 2500X Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 2500X	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	235 FPS	561 FPS
medium	235 FPS	561 FPS
high	235 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	561 FPS
medium	235 FPS	561 FPS
high	235 FPS	538 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	470 FPS
4K
low	235 FPS	499 FPS
medium	235 FPS	394 FPS
high	235 FPS	343 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	275 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 2500X Open Ryzen 7 3700X

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 2500X	Ryzen 7 3700X
1080p
low	235 FPS	561 FPS
medium	235 FPS	561 FPS
high	235 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	561 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	561 FPS
medium	235 FPS	561 FPS
high	235 FPS	561 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	555 FPS
4K
low	235 FPS	561 FPS
medium	235 FPS	501 FPS
high	235 FPS	447 FPS
ultra	235 FPS	396 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 2500X Open Ryzen 7 3700X

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 2500X and Ryzen 7 3700X

Ryzen 5 2500X

The Ryzen 5 2500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 9,388 points. Launch price was $149.

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 Ryzen 5 2500X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2500X versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 9.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2500X uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2500X scores 9,388 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 82% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2500X vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.

Feature	Ryzen 5 2500X	Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	8 / 16+100%
Boost Clock	4 GHz	4.4 GHz+10%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz	3.6 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	32 MB+100%
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	12 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-42%
Architecture	Zen+ (2018−2019)	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)
PassMark	9,388	22,430+139%

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0.

Feature	Ryzen 5 2500X	Ryzen 7 3700X
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity	—	128 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	Yes
PCIe Lanes	—	24

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 2500X launched at $159 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. On MSRP ($159 vs $329), the Ryzen 5 2500X is $170 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 2500X delivers 59.0 pts/$ vs 68.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 14.4% better value option.