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 5600

2022

Why buy it

✅+3.8% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Ryzen 5 8640U.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8640U across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 8640U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8640U moves to FP8 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 8640U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 8640U

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 760M, while Ryzen 5 5600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (10,675 vs 11,077).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Ryzen 5 5600

2022

Ryzen 5 8640U

2023

Why buy it

✅+3.8% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).
✅20% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Wraith Stealth), unlike Ryzen 5 8640U.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 28W instead of 65W, a 37W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP8 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon 760M, while Ryzen 5 5600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 8640U across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 8640U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌132.1% higher power demand at 65W vs 28W.
❌Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 8640U moves to FP8 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 8640U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (10,675 vs 11,077).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 32 MB).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 5600.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 8640U better than Ryzen 5 5600?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Ryzen 5 8640U is ahead with a 4.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600 pulls ahead with 3.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 5600 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 16 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 5600 is the better fit. You are getting 3.8% 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 8640U is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 5600 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 5 8640U is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 4.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. The trade-off is that Ryzen 5 5600 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 3.8% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Ryzen 5 5600 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (108.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 8640U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022) and a healthier platform with FP8 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 5 5600 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 8640U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	161 FPS	261 FPS
medium	130 FPS	237 FPS
high	112 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	171 FPS
1440p
low	141 FPS	230 FPS
medium	113 FPS	190 FPS
high	95 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	78 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	159 FPS
medium	69 FPS	133 FPS
high	55 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	44 FPS	91 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen 5 8640U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	508 FPS	371 FPS
medium	419 FPS	309 FPS
high	351 FPS	272 FPS
ultra	310 FPS	236 FPS
1440p
low	447 FPS	313 FPS
medium	375 FPS	270 FPS
high	323 FPS	244 FPS
ultra	277 FPS	207 FPS
4K
low	313 FPS	234 FPS
medium	268 FPS	206 FPS
high	243 FPS	191 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	161 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen 5 8640U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	539 FPS	507 FPS
medium	526 FPS	507 FPS
high	483 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	507 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	507 FPS
medium	434 FPS	507 FPS
high	396 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	339 FPS	443 FPS
4K
low	371 FPS	493 FPS
medium	298 FPS	435 FPS
high	255 FPS	372 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	308 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen 5 8640U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 5 8640U
1080p
low	539 FPS	507 FPS
medium	539 FPS	507 FPS
high	539 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	539 FPS	507 FPS
1440p
low	539 FPS	507 FPS
medium	539 FPS	507 FPS
high	539 FPS	507 FPS
ultra	493 FPS	507 FPS
4K
low	501 FPS	507 FPS
medium	448 FPS	501 FPS
high	398 FPS	442 FPS
ultra	349 FPS	380 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 5600 Open Ryzen 5 8640U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 5600 and Ryzen 5 8640U

Ryzen 5 5600

The Ryzen 5 5600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 21,550 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 8640U

The Ryzen 5 8640U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 20,274 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 5600 and Ryzen 5 8640U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 8640U — a 10.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the Vermeer (2020−2025) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 8640U uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 21,550 against the Ryzen 5 8640U's 20,274 — a 6.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 5600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 11,077 vs 10,675 (3.7% advantage for the Ryzen 5 5600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,052 vs 2,519, a 20.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 8640U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 8,600 vs 10,308 (18.1% advantage for the Ryzen 5 8640U). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 5600 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 8640U.

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 5 8640U
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.4 GHz	4.9 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+100%	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	1 MB (per core)+100%
Process	7 nm	4 nm-43%
Architecture	Vermeer (2020−2025)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025)
PassMark	21,550+6%	20,274
Cinebench R23 Multi	11,077+4%	10,675
Geekbench 6 Single	2,052	2,519+23%
Geekbench 6 Multi	8,600	10,308+20%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Ryzen 5 5600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 8640U uses FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 5600 versus LPDDR5x-7500 on the Ryzen 5 8640U — the Ryzen 5 8640U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 8640U 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: 24 (Ryzen 5 5600) vs 20 (Ryzen 5 8640U) — the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B550,X570,B450,X470,A520 (Ryzen 5 5600) and SoC (Ryzen 5 8640U).

Feature	Ryzen 5 5600	Ryzen 5 8640U
Socket	AM4	FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	LPDDR5x-7500+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	24+20%	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 5600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 8640U supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 5600) vs AMD-V (SVM) (Ryzen 5 8640U). The Ryzen 5 8640U includes integrated graphics (Radeon 760M), while the Ryzen 5 5600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 5600 targets Desktop, Ryzen 5 8640U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 8640U rivals Core i5-1335U.