Ryzen 3 3300X vs Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

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 3300X

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $79 less on MSRP ($120 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 67.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 67.0 PassMark/$ ($120 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

2018

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 3 3300X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,330 vs 13,425).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.0 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $120 MSRP).

Ryzen 3 3300X

2020

Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $79 less on MSRP ($120 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 67.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 67.0 PassMark/$ ($120 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 3 3300X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (13,330 vs 13,425).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 67.0 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $120 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 3 3300X better than Ryzen 5 PRO 2600?

Yes. Ryzen 3 3300X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 6.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% 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 3 3300X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 6.7% 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 3 3300X is the better fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 3 3300X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 3 3300X is $79 cheaper on MSRP at $120 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and it gives you a 6.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 67.0% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 67.0 PassMark/$), 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 3300X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 6/12. 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 3 3300X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 3 3300X	Ryzen 5 PRO 2600
1080p
low	166 FPS	186 FPS
medium	137 FPS	159 FPS
high	118 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	145 FPS	152 FPS
medium	116 FPS	125 FPS
high	96 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	79 FPS	67 FPS
medium	68 FPS	59 FPS
high	54 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	37 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 3300X Open Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 3 3300X	Ryzen 5 PRO 2600
1080p
low	316 FPS	255 FPS
medium	264 FPS	221 FPS
high	221 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	185 FPS	157 FPS
1440p
low	276 FPS	229 FPS
medium	237 FPS	201 FPS
high	202 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	146 FPS
4K
low	197 FPS	180 FPS
medium	174 FPS	161 FPS
high	142 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	116 FPS	107 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 3300X Open Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 3 3300X	Ryzen 5 PRO 2600
1080p
low	336 FPS	333 FPS
medium	336 FPS	333 FPS
high	336 FPS	333 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	333 FPS
1440p
low	336 FPS	333 FPS
medium	336 FPS	333 FPS
high	336 FPS	333 FPS
ultra	332 FPS	302 FPS
4K
low	336 FPS	333 FPS
medium	309 FPS	270 FPS
high	258 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	203 FPS	189 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 3300X Open Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 3 3300X	Ryzen 5 PRO 2600
1080p
low	336 FPS	333 FPS
medium	336 FPS	333 FPS
high	336 FPS	333 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	333 FPS
1440p
low	336 FPS	333 FPS
medium	336 FPS	333 FPS
high	336 FPS	333 FPS
ultra	336 FPS	333 FPS
4K
low	336 FPS	333 FPS
medium	336 FPS	333 FPS
high	336 FPS	333 FPS
ultra	331 FPS	320 FPS

Open Ryzen 3 3300X Open Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 3 3300X and Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

Ryzen 3 3300X

The Ryzen 3 3300X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 16 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: 13,425 points. Launch price was $120.

Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

The Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 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: 13,330 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

The Ryzen 3 3300X packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 3 3300X versus 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 — a 9.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 3300X (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Ryzen 3 3300X uses the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 3 3300X scores 13,425 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600's 13,330 — a 0.7% lead for the Ryzen 3 3300X. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Ryzen 3 3300X	Ryzen 5 PRO 2600
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	4.3 GHz+10%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+12%	3.4 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	7 nm-42%	12 nm
Architecture	Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	13,425	13,330

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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 4.0.

Feature	Ryzen 3 3300X	Ryzen 5 PRO 2600
Socket	AM4	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	—
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	24	—

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Value Analysis

The Ryzen 3 3300X launched at $120 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($120 vs $199), the Ryzen 3 3300X is $79 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 3 3300X delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 67.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 — making the Ryzen 3 3300X the 50.2% better value option.