AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits this comparison into two very clear territories. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 dominates the multi-threaded and throughput-oriented workloads, winning 15 of the 17 recorded head-to-head tests. The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE wins only in single-threaded PassMark testing, but it wins that category convincingly.

The Ryzen 5 3600 is the clear choice for any workload that scales across cores. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 15045 against the 5355GE's 10846, a 27.9% advantage. The same margin repeats across every Cinebench multi-core test, with the R15, R20, and R23 variants all showing a 27.9% gap. PassMark multi-thread follows the same pattern: 17700 versus 12761, again a 27.9% difference. The Ryzen 5 3600 also wins all of the PassMark compute tests, including data compression (219774 versus 152885, 30.4% ahead), data encryption (13953 versus 9564, 31.5% ahead), and extended instructions (14442 versus 10368, 28.2% ahead).

The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE takes the single-thread PassMark test with a score of 3089 versus 2562, a 20.6% lead. That is the only head-to-head win for the 5355GE, but it is not a trivial one. Single-thread performance matters for lightly threaded applications, legacy software, and responsiveness in everyday desktop tasks. The data shows the 5355GE has the stronger per-core performance profile despite having fewer cores.

The split is clean. Users who need raw throughput across many threads should look at the Ryzen 5 3600. Users who prioritize single-thread speed and lower power draw should consider the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations of AMD's Zen architecture. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE is built on Zen 3 with the Cezanne codename, part of the 5000 series. The Ryzen 5 3600 uses Zen 2 with the Matisse codename, part of the 3000 series. Both are fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC, but the similarities end there.

The core counts differ significantly. The Ryzen 5 3600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. That 2-core, 4-thread advantage explains much of the Ryzen 5 3600's multi-threaded dominance. Both processors share the same base clock of 3.60 GHz and the same boost clock of 4.20 GHz, so the performance gap in threaded workloads comes primarily from the additional cores, not from clock speed.

Cache configurations differ in an important way. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE has 8 MB of L3 cache, while the Ryzen 5 3600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 512 KB of L2 cache per core. The Ryzen 5 3600's four times larger L3 cache is a meaningful advantage for workloads that repeatedly access the same data.

Transistor counts and die sizes tell the story of the different designs. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE uses 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The Ryzen 5 3600 uses 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The 5355GE is the larger and more complex chip despite having fewer cores, reflecting its integrated graphics and newer architecture.

The integrated graphics situation is a major differentiator. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE includes Radeon Vega 6 graphics, while the Ryzen 5 3600 has no integrated graphics at all. This means the 5355GE can run a system without a discrete graphics card, while the 3600 requires one. The 5355GE also supports ECC memory, while the 3600 does not.

The PCIe implementation differs as well. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The Ryzen 5 3600 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The 3600's newer PCIe standard offers higher bandwidth for compatible devices.

Power characteristics are very different. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 has a 65 W TDP. The 5355GE is designed for efficiency, and the data reflects that positioning. The Ryzen 5 3600 is also multiplier unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the 5355GE is locked.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE, based on the PassMark single-thread test where it scores 3089 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 2562, a 20.6% lead.

Q: Does the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics. The Ryzen 5 3600 has no integrated graphics and requires a discrete GPU.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 5 3600 does not list ECC support in the database.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE has a 35 W TDP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 has a 65 W TDP.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, compared to 8 MB on the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE.

Q: Can the Ryzen 5 3600 be overclocked?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE does not.

Specification Differences

The two CPUs differ on several key specifications. Core count is the most obvious: the Ryzen 5 3600 has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE has 4 cores and 8 threads. The TDP ratings diverge sharply at 65 W for the 3600 versus 35 W for the 5355GE.

The architecture generation separates them. The 5355GE uses Zen 3 with the Cezanne codename, while the 3600 uses Zen 2 with the Matisse codename. Both are 7 nm parts from TSMC, but the transistor counts differ substantially: 10,700 million on the 5355GE versus 3,800 million on the 3600. Die size also differs at 180 mm² for the 5355GE and 74 mm² for the 3600.

Cache differs in L3 capacity. The 5355GE has 8 MB of L3 cache, while the 3600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB and 512 KB per core respectively.

The integrated graphics situation is a clear differentiator. The 5355GE includes Radeon Vega 6, while the 3600 has none. ECC memory support is present on the 5355GE but absent on the 3600. The PCIe generation differs: Gen 3 on the 5355GE and Gen 4 on the 3600, both with 16 CPU lanes.

The multiplier is unlocked on the 3600 and locked on the 5355GE. The release dates are far apart, with the 3600 released in July 2019 and the 5355GE released in September 2024. The 3600 has a launch MSRP of $199. Both use DDR4 memory with dual-channel support and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, and both use the AMD Socket AM4.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 5 3600 wins every Cinebench test in the database. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 1516 against 1093, a 27.9% margin. The single-core R15 test shows 214 versus 154, also a 28% margin. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 6318 versus 4555, another 27.9% gap, and R20 single-core shows 892 versus 643, again 27.9%. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows 15045 versus 10846, 27.9%, and R23 single-core shows 2124 versus 1531, 27.9%. The consistency of these margins suggests a structural advantage rather than workload-specific behavior.

The PassMark suite tells a similar story for multi-threaded work. PassMark multi-thread shows 17700 versus 12761, a 27.9% lead for the 3600. Data compression shows 219774 versus 152885, a 30.4% lead. Data encryption shows 13953 versus 9564, a 31.5% lead. Extended instructions show 14442 versus 10368, a 28.2% lead. The 3600 also wins floating point math (28607 versus 24115, 15.7% ahead) and integer math (48607 versus 44665, 8.1% ahead).

The largest single margin in the entire comparison comes from PassMark find prime numbers. The Ryzen 5 3600 scores 108 against the 5355GE's 31, a 71.3% advantage. This test is particularly sensitive to core count and cache, and the 3600's combination of 6 cores and 32 MB of L3 cache delivers a decisive result. PassMark physics also shows a wide gap at 1152 versus 552, a 52.1% lead for the 3600.

The Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE's only wins come in the PassMark single-thread test, where it scores 3089 against 2562, a 20.6% lead. This appears twice in the database under slightly different test names (passmark_single_thread and passmark_singlethread), both showing identical scores. The 5355GE's Zen 3 architecture gives it a meaningful per-core advantage, but it cannot overcome the 3600's two additional cores in threaded workloads.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is the stronger processor for the vast majority of compute workloads. It wins 15 of 17 head-to-head tests, including every Cinebench benchmark, every multi-threaded PassMark test, and every compute-intensive PassMark test. Its 6 cores and 12 threads give it a structural advantage that the 5355GE cannot offset despite its newer architecture. The 3600 also offers 32 MB of L3 cache, four times that of the 5355GE, and PCIe Gen 4 support. The unlocked multiplier is another point in its favor for users who want to overclock.

The AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE has a narrower but still valid case. It wins the single-thread PassMark test by 20.6%, which matters for responsive desktop use and lightly threaded applications. It draws 35 W versus 65 W, making it the more efficient option. It includes Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics, so it can power a system without a discrete GPU. It supports ECC memory, which the 3600 does not. Its Zen 3 architecture delivers better per-core performance, but the 3600's extra cores and larger cache win the threaded workloads decisively.

Users who run heavily threaded applications, content creation workloads, or any task that scales across cores should choose the Ryzen 5 3600. Users who need an efficient, low-power processor with integrated graphics and ECC support should choose the Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE. The 5355GE is not a replacement for the 3600 in raw throughput, but it serves a different purpose in the desktop market.