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 7600X

2022

Why buy it

✅+16% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 94.7 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 8500G.

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 26.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 7600X.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,500 vs 2,900).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,310 vs 15,300).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Ryzen 5 8500G

2024

Why buy it

✅+16% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅100% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 14) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Costs $120 less on MSRP ($179 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Delivers 26.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.0 vs 94.7 PassMark/$ ($179 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 105W, a 40W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Ryzen 5 7600X.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 94.7 vs 120.0 PassMark/$ ($299 MSRP vs $179 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 105W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 8500G.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (2,500 vs 2,900).
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (9,310 vs 15,300).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7600X better than Ryzen 5 8500G?

Yes. Ryzen 5 7600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 64.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 31.9% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 7600X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 2.9% 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 7600X is the better fit. You are getting 64.3% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 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 5 7600X is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 8500G makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 5 7600X is 67.0% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $179 MSRP, and it gives you a 2.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 8500G is also 26.7% better value on MSRP (120.0 vs 94.7 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 8500G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2024 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

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 7600X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 8500G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	266 FPS	267 FPS
medium	246 FPS	238 FPS
high	210 FPS	203 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	173 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	231 FPS
medium	189 FPS	186 FPS
high	154 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	159 FPS
medium	131 FPS	130 FPS
high	101 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	87 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	649 FPS	455 FPS
medium	524 FPS	371 FPS
high	436 FPS	321 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	279 FPS
1440p
low	544 FPS	394 FPS
medium	455 FPS	338 FPS
high	388 FPS	294 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	248 FPS
4K
low	341 FPS	287 FPS
medium	290 FPS	251 FPS
high	271 FPS	230 FPS
ultra	232 FPS	193 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	708 FPS	537 FPS
medium	652 FPS	537 FPS
high	571 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	484 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	708 FPS	537 FPS
medium	554 FPS	537 FPS
high	479 FPS	517 FPS
ultra	409 FPS	441 FPS
4K
low	463 FPS	497 FPS
medium	392 FPS	418 FPS
high	341 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	281 FPS	293 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen 5 8500G
1080p
low	708 FPS	537 FPS
medium	708 FPS	537 FPS
high	708 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	708 FPS	537 FPS
1440p
low	708 FPS	537 FPS
medium	708 FPS	537 FPS
high	658 FPS	537 FPS
ultra	571 FPS	537 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	537 FPS
medium	502 FPS	519 FPS
high	452 FPS	462 FPS
ultra	391 FPS	393 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen 5 8500G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 7600X and Ryzen 5 8500G

Ryzen 5 7600X

The Ryzen 5 7600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 4.7 GHz, with boost up to 5.3 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 5 nm, 6 nm process technology. Socket: AM5. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-5200. Passmark benchmark score: 28,325 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 8500G

The Ryzen 5 8500G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 8 January 2024 (1 year ago). It is based on the Phoenix2 (2024) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 21,481 points. Launch price was $229.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 7600X and Ryzen 5 8500G share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X versus 5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G — a 5.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 4.7 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7600X uses the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8500G uses Phoenix2 (2024) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 7600X scores 28,325 against the Ryzen 5 8500G's 21,481 — a 27.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 15,300 vs 9,310 (48.7% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,900 vs 2,500, a 14.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,800 vs 10,000 (31.9% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8500G.

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen 5 8500G
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+6%	5 GHz
Base Clock	4.7 GHz+34%	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+100%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	6 MB+500%	1 MB (per core)
Process	5 nm, 6 nm	4 nm-20%
Architecture	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)	Phoenix2 (2024)
PassMark	28,325+32%	21,481
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,300+64%	9,310
Geekbench 6 Single	2,900+16%	2,500
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,800+38%	10,000

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM5 socket with PCIe 5.0. Both support up to DDR5-5200 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 8500G supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) vs 14 (Ryzen 5 8500G) — the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 14 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X) and A620,B650,B650E,X670,X670E,B840,B850,X870,X870E (Ryzen 5 8500G).

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen 5 8500G
Socket	AM5	AM5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200	DDR5-5200
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28+100%	14

🔧

Advanced Features

Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600X) and Radeon 740M (Ryzen 5 8500G) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming, Ryzen 5 8500G targets General Use. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K; Ryzen 5 8500G rivals Core i5-13400.

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen 5 8500G
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core)	Radeon 740M
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	—
Virtualization	AMD-V	AMD-V
Target Use	Gaming	General Use

💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 7600X launched at $299 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 8500G debuted at $179. On MSRP ($299 vs $179), the Ryzen 5 8500G is $120 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 7600X delivers 94.7 pts/$ vs 120.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 8500G — making the Ryzen 5 8500G the 23.5% better value option.