AMD Ryzen 5 3600 vs AMD Ryzen 5 4500 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows two 6-core, 12-thread Zen 2 parts that split their head-to-head results almost evenly: the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 secures 13 wins while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 takes 12. The pattern of those wins is remarkably consistent, with the 4500 dominating 3DMark and several PassMark compute workloads while the 3600 controls Cinebench, Geekbench, and a few specialized PassMark tests.

Starting with 3DMark, the Ryzen 5 4500 leads across every thread count tested. The smallest margin is in 3dmark_2_threads, where the 4500 scores 1400 versus 1361, a 2.9% advantage. The gap widens as thread counts rise: 4.0% in 3dmark_4_threads (2682 vs 2579), 4.1% in 3dmark_16_threads (4795 vs 4605), and 4.2% in 3dmark_max_threads (4795 vs 4603). The single largest 3DMark delta comes in 3dmark_8_threads, where the 4500 posts 4077 against 3844, a 6.1% margin. Even in 3dmark_single_thread, the 4500 edges ahead by 2.2% (711 vs 696). These results indicate that the 4500's boost behavior under 3DMark's workload pattern favors its design, particularly in mid-range thread counts.

The Cinebench results tell a different story, and it is a decisive one for the 3600. Across all six Cinebench tests, the 3600 wins by nearly identical margins. In cinebench_r23_multicore, the 3600 scores 15045 against 13677, a 9.1% advantage. That same 9.1% delta appears in cinebench_r15_multicore (1516 vs 1378) and cinebench_r20_multicore (6318 vs 5744). Single-core Cinebench results follow the same direction: the 3600 leads by 9.3% in cinebench_r15_singlecore (214 vs 194), 9.2% in cinebench_r20_singlecore (892 vs 810), and 9.1% in cinebench_r23_singlecore (2124 vs 1930). The consistency of these deltas suggests a systematic advantage in Cinebench's rendering pipeline rather than a workload-specific quirk.

Geekbench also favors the 3600, though by smaller margins. In geekbench_singlecore, the 3600 scores 1536 versus 1489, a 3.1% lead. In geekbench_multicore, the 3600 posts 7372 against 7005, a 5.0% advantage. These are meaningful but not overwhelming gaps, indicating the 3600's architecture extracts more performance in general-purpose integer and floating-point tasks as measured by Geekbench.

PassMark results are split, with the 4500 winning six tests and the 3600 winning four. The 4500's PassMark wins include data_compression (228741 vs 219774, 4.1%), extended_instructions (15166 vs 14442, 5.0%), floating_point_math (29405 vs 28607, 2.8%), integer_math (49707 vs 48607, 2.3%), random_string_sorting (23989 vs 23707, 1.2%), and single_thread (2593 vs 2562, 1.2%). The passmark_singlethread result matches at 2593 vs 2562, also a 1.2% win for the 4500.

The 3600's PassMark victories are concentrated in fewer but larger deltas. The most dramatic result in the entire comparison is passmark_find_prime_numbers, where the 3600 scores 108 against 34, a 68.5% advantage. That is by far the largest margin in any test. The 3600 also wins passmark_physics by 37% (1152 vs 726), passmark_multithread by 9.1% (17700 vs 16091), and passmark_data_encryption by 2.6% (13953 vs 13597). The prime number and physics results highlight significant differences in how each CPU handles these specific workloads, likely tied to cache behavior and memory latency characteristics.

Aggregate scores place the two parts close together. The 4500 has an average benchmark score of 17333, while the 3600 sits at 17035. Both share the same 71st percentile ranking among all CPUs. The 4500's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 3 210 (0.1% higher average), the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G (0.3% higher), the Intel Core 7 150U (0.4% lower), and the Intel Core i5-12450H (0.5% higher). The 3600's nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-1260P (0.2% higher), the Intel Core i5-11400 (0.2% lower), the AMD EPYC 7573X (0.2% lower), and the AMD EPYC 7742 (0.2% higher). Both CPUs occupy a tightly contested performance band where single-digit percentage differences separate them from their closest competitors.

The Verdict

The data does not support a single universal winner. Instead, the choice depends on which benchmark family matters most for the intended use case.

For users prioritizing Cinebench rendering performance, Geekbench general-purpose scores, or PassMark multithread and physics workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is the clear selection. Its 9.1% lead across all Cinebench multicore tests, 5.0% Geekbench multicore advantage, 37% PassMark physics margin, and 68.5% PassMark prime number result make it the stronger part for those specific tasks. The 3600 also wins PassMark multithread by 9.1% (17700 vs 16091), reinforcing its advantage in heavily threaded general workloads.

For users focused on 3DMark gaming-related benchmarks, PassMark integer and floating-point math, data compression, extended instructions, or single-thread PassMark scores, the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 takes the win. Its 3DMark sweep includes a 6.1% advantage at 8 threads and 4.2% at max threads, which could translate to better frame pacing in games that scale to those thread counts. The 4500 also leads in PassMark single_thread by 1.2% (2593 vs 2562), a small but consistent edge.

The aggregate picture is nearly neutral. The 4500's average benchmark score of 17333 exceeds the 3600's 17035 by roughly 1.7%, yet the 3600 wins the majority of the heavy rendering and physics tests. Neither part establishes dominance across all categories. The 4500 wins 13 head-to-head tests, the 3600 wins 12, and the margins on each side vary from negligible to enormous.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins in 3DMark across all tested thread configurations, from 2 threads to max threads. This includes 3dmark_16_threads (4795 vs 4605), 3dmark_2_threads (1400 vs 1361), 3dmark_4_threads (2682 vs 2579), 3dmark_8_threads (4077 vs 3844), 3dmark_max_threads (4795 vs 4603), and 3dmark_single_thread (711 vs 696). It also wins PassMark data compression (228741 vs 219774), extended instructions (15166 vs 14442), floating-point math (29405 vs 28607), integer math (49707 vs 48607), random string sorting (23989 vs 23707), and single-thread performance (2593 vs 2562).

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 wins all Cinebench tests: R15 multicore (1516 vs 1378), R15 single-core (214 vs 194), R20 multicore (6318 vs 5744), R20 single-core (892 vs 810), R23 multicore (15045 vs 13677), and R23 single-core (2124 vs 1930). It also wins Geekbench multicore (7372 vs 7005) and single-core (1536 vs 1489), plus PassMark data encryption (13953 vs 13597), find prime numbers (108 vs 34), multithread (17700 vs 16091), and physics (1152 vs 726).

For gaming-oriented use, the 3DMark results favor the 4500, but the physics and multithread PassMark results favor the 3600. For content creation with Cinebench and Geekbench, the 3600 holds a consistent advantage around 5% to 9%. For math-heavy and compression workloads, the 4500 leads by 1% to 5%. The prime number test is the outlier: the 3600's 68.5% margin dwarfs every other delta in the comparison.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 boosts to 4.10 GHz. Both have a 3.60 GHz base clock and 65 W TDP.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 scores 15045 in Cinebench R23 multicore, which is 9.1% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 4500's 13677.

Q: Which CPU wins in 3DMark?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 wins every 3DMark test in the comparison, with deltas ranging from 2.2% in single-thread to 6.1% in 8-thread.

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 scores 108 versus 34, a 68.5% advantage over the 4500.

Q: Do both CPUs use the same architecture and socket?

A: Yes, both use Zen 2 architecture on AMD Socket AM4, with 6 cores and 12 threads. Both are built on TSMC's 7 nm process.

Q: How close are their average benchmark scores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has an average benchmark score of 17333, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 averages 17035. Both rank at the 71st percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the AMD Ryzen 5 4500 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core.

Architecture Differences

Despite sharing the Zen 2 architecture, the 7 nm process from TSMC, and the AMD Socket AM4 platform, the two CPUs come from different chip designs with distinct characteristics. The Ryzen 5 4500 belongs to the 4000 series with the Renoir codename, while the Ryzen 5 3600 is from the 3000 series with the Matisse codename.

The most striking difference is in transistor count and die size. The 4500 packs 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the 3600 uses 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The 4500 has significantly more transistors on a larger die, which reflects its Renoir lineage as an APU-derived design even though this desktop part does not include integrated graphics.

Cache configuration also differs substantially. The 3600 features 32 MB of shared L3 cache, four times the 8 MB found on the 4500. L1 and L2 caches are identical at 64 KB per core and 512 KB per core respectively. The L3 difference likely explains several benchmark outcomes, particularly the 3600's massive lead in PassMark find prime numbers and its 37% advantage in PassMark physics, workloads that benefit from larger cache footprints and reduced memory latency.

PCIe support varies between the two. The 3600 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the 4500 is limited to PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. This could matter for storage and GPU bandwidth in systems that use Gen 4 devices, though the benchmark data in this comparison does not directly measure PCIe throughput.

Memory support is identical on paper: both use DDR4 in dual-channel configuration with 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory. Both CPUs have unlocked multipliers, allowing overclocking on compatible AM4 motherboards.

Clock speeds are close but not identical. The 3600 boosts to 4.20 GHz versus 4.10 GHz for the 4500, while both run at 3.60 GHz base. The 3600's higher boost clock and larger L3 cache align with its Cinebench and Geekbench wins, while the 4500's higher transistor count and different internal layout appear to favor 3DMark and PassMark math workloads.

Release timing differs significantly. The 3600 launched on 2019-07-06, while the 4500 arrived later on 2022-04-03. The 3600 carries part number 100-000000031, while the 4500 uses 100-000000xxx. Both CPUs remain in active production status. The 3600 launched with an MSRP of $199 and the 4500 with an MSRP of $129, though pricing is not a factor in the performance analysis presented here.

Both CPUs occupy the same 71st percentile ranking and produce average benchmark scores within 2% of each other. The architectural differences that separate them, primarily L3 cache size, PCIe generation, and die layout, translate into the specific benchmark patterns documented in the head-to-head results. The 4500's 13 wins and the 3600's 12 wins reflect two different engineering trade-offs that each excel in distinct workload categories.