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

✅Better for gaming: +99.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌5150% higher power demand at 105W vs 2W.

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 105W, a 103W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,802 vs 15,300).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).

Ryzen 5 7600X

2022

Ryzen Z2 Go

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +99.0% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+300% larger total L3 cache (32 MB vs 8 MB).
✅75% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 105W, a 103W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $299 MSRP, while Ryzen Z2 Go mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌5150% higher power demand at 105W vs 2W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 7600X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (5,802 vs 15,300).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 32 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 7600X better than Ryzen Z2 Go?

Yes. Ryzen 5 7600X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 99.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 163.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 132.4% 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 99.0% more average FPS across 4 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 163.7% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 7600X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 7600X is at an unclear MSRP at $299 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 99.0% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (94.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 Z2 Go is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 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 Z2 Go Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	266 FPS	176 FPS
medium	246 FPS	139 FPS
high	210 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	89 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	145 FPS
medium	189 FPS	113 FPS
high	154 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	77 FPS
medium	131 FPS	65 FPS
high	101 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	40 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	649 FPS	286 FPS
medium	524 FPS	241 FPS
high	436 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	386 FPS	184 FPS
1440p
low	544 FPS	249 FPS
medium	455 FPS	213 FPS
high	388 FPS	194 FPS
ultra	329 FPS	163 FPS
4K
low	341 FPS	195 FPS
medium	290 FPS	172 FPS
high	271 FPS	143 FPS
ultra	232 FPS	119 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	708 FPS	305 FPS
medium	652 FPS	305 FPS
high	571 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	484 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	708 FPS	305 FPS
medium	554 FPS	305 FPS
high	479 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	409 FPS	305 FPS
4K
low	463 FPS	305 FPS
medium	392 FPS	305 FPS
high	341 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	281 FPS	220 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Z2 Go

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Z2 Go
1080p
low	708 FPS	305 FPS
medium	708 FPS	305 FPS
high	708 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	708 FPS	305 FPS
1440p
low	708 FPS	305 FPS
medium	708 FPS	305 FPS
high	658 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	571 FPS	305 FPS
4K
low	560 FPS	305 FPS
medium	502 FPS	305 FPS
high	452 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	391 FPS	305 FPS

Open Ryzen 5 7600X Open Ryzen Z2 Go

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 7600X and Ryzen Z2 Go

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 Z2 Go

The Ryzen Z2 Go is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Rembrandt R (2025) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 8 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 12,188 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 7600X packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 Go offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Ryzen 5 7600X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X versus 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 Go — a 20.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X (base: 4.7 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7600X uses the Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023) architecture (5 nm, 6 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 Go uses Rembrandt R (2025) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 7600X scores 28,325 against the Ryzen Z2 Go's 12,188 — a 79.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 15,300 vs 5,802 (90% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 2,900 vs 1,842, a 44.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 7600X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 13,800 vs 6,073 (77.8% advantage for the Ryzen 5 7600X). L3 cache: 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7600X vs 8 MB on the Ryzen Z2 Go.

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Z2 Go
Cores / Threads	6 / 12+50%	4 / 8
Boost Clock	5.3 GHz+23%	4.3 GHz
Base Clock	4.7 GHz+57%	3 GHz
L3 Cache	32 MB (total)+300%	8 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB+200%	2 MB
Process	5 nm, 6 nm-17%	6 nm
Architecture	Raphael (Zen4) (2022−2023)	Rembrandt R (2025)
PassMark	28,325+132%	12,188
Cinebench R23 Multi	15,300+164%	5,802
Geekbench 6 Single	2,900+57%	1,842
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,800+127%	6,073

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both support up to DDR5-5200 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 7600X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 28 (Ryzen 5 7600X) vs 16 (Ryzen Z2 Go) — the Ryzen 5 7600X offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X670E,X670,B650E,B650,A620 (Ryzen 5 7600X) and Rembrandt-R (Ryzen Z2 Go).

Feature	Ryzen 5 7600X	Ryzen Z2 Go
Socket	AM5	—
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	28+75%	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 7600X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Ryzen 5 7600X supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7600X) vs SVM (Ryzen Z2 Go). Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon Graphics (2-core) (Ryzen 5 7600X) and Radeon 680M (Ryzen Z2 Go) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 7600X targets Gaming, Ryzen Z2 Go targets Budget. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 7600X rivals Intel Core i5-13600K; Ryzen Z2 Go rivals Core Ultra 5 135U.