AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and AMD Ryzen 7 4800H are both Zen 2 parts, but they target entirely different segments: a desktop socket versus a mobile platform. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the 3600X dominates single-threaded and lightly-threaded workloads, while the 4800H leverages its two extra cores to take the lead in several multi-threaded tasks. The overall win count is nearly even—9 wins for the 3600X versus 8 for the 4800H—but the magnitude of those wins is lopsided in favor of the desktop chip.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the Ryzen 5 3600X scores 15,430 against the 4800H’s 11,135.5, a massive 38.6% advantage. This is counterintuitive given the 4800H’s 8-core/16-thread configuration versus the 3600X’s 6-core/12-thread setup. The desktop chip’s higher sustained power envelope and boost clock of 4.40 GHz clearly overcome the core deficit in this heavily threaded render test.

Single-core performance is where the 3600X truly separates itself. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 2,178 versus 1,253.5 for the 4800H—a 73.8% lead. The gap persists in Cinebench R15 single-core, where the 3600X wins 219 to 188, a 16.5% margin. Geekbench single-core confirms the trend: 1,568 for the 3600X versus 1,329 for the 4800H, an 18% advantage. These numbers indicate the 3600X’s higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost of 4.40 GHz provide a decisive per-thread advantage over the 4800H’s 2.90 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost.

The 4800H fights back in integer and floating-point math. In Passmark integer math, it scores 63,999 versus 49,934 for the 3600X, a 22% win. Floating-point math shows a 21.4% lead for the 4800H (37,312 vs 29,339). Data compression also favors the mobile chip: 269,334 versus 224,318, a 16.7% margin. These Passmark results suggest the 4800H’s extra cores provide real throughput in parallel integer and FP workloads that scale well across 16 threads.

However, the 3600X delivers one of the most dramatic single-test wins in the entire comparison: Passmark find prime numbers, where it scores 110 versus just 33 for the 4800H—a 233.3% advantage. This points to a massive difference in per-core efficiency for certain algorithmic workloads. The 3600X also wins Passmark physics 1,186 to 754, a 57.3% lead, and Geekbench multi-core 7,785 to 6,490, a 20% advantage.

The 4800H takes the remaining wins: data encryption (15,530 vs 14,255, +8.2%), extended instructions (17,035 vs 14,773, +13.3%), random string sorting (29,181 vs 24,343, +16.6%), and a narrow Passmark multithread win (18,222 vs 18,154, only 0.4% ahead). In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 4800H wins 1,854 to 1,555, a 16.1% margin—a stark contrast to the R23 multi-core result where the 3600X dominates. This inconsistency suggests the R15 test is more sensitive to the 4800H’s core count while R23 benefits from the 3600X’s higher sustained clocks.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Ryzen 5 3600X is the superior processor for single-threaded and most mixed workloads, while the Ryzen 7 4800H only wins in specific multi-threaded integer/FP tasks. For users running Cinebench R23, Geekbench, physics simulations, or prime-number finding, the 3600X is the clear pick—its 73.8% lead in R23 single-core and 20% lead in Geekbench multi-core are decisive. The 4800H’s wins are real but narrower in percentage (except in integer math) and fail to compensate for the 3600X’s dominance in the most commonly cited benchmarks.

The 3600X’s average benchmark score of 21,992 also edges out the 4800H’s 21,749, and both sit at the 75th percentile of all CPUs. The 3600X’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i7-11700F with an average score of 21,988 (0% delta), while the 4800H is closest to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X at 21,771 (-0.1% delta). This places the 3600X slightly ahead on aggregate, reinforcing its overall performance lead.

Given the 4800H’s mobile design with a 45 W TDP and integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP, it will appeal to laptop users needing multi-threaded throughput. But for desktop builders, the 3600X’s 95 W TDP, unlocked multiplier, and superior benchmark results make it the stronger choice across the board—except in the narrow Passmark math tests where the 4800H’s extra cores prevail.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on TSMC’s 7 nm process and use the Zen 2 architecture, but they are distinct silicon. The 3600X, codenamed Matisse, is a desktop part with 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The 4800H, codenamed Renoir, is a mobile APU with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die—the larger transistor count and die size reflect the integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP and the additional two cores.

Cache configuration differs substantially. The 3600X has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 4800H has only 8 MB shared. Both have 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, but the 3600X’s larger L3 pool likely contributes to its single-thread performance advantage. Memory support is another divergence: the 3600X supports DDR4 only, while the 4800H adds LPDDR4, catering to mobile memory requirements. Both run dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

PCIe generation differentiates the platforms: the 3600X offers Gen 4, while the 4800H is limited to Gen 3. The 3600X uses AMD Socket AM4 with an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the 4800H is soldered to Socket FP6 with no unlocked multiplier. The 4800H has integrated graphics, which the 3600X lacks entirely.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has higher single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600X wins every single-core benchmark in the comparison. It leads by 16.5% in Cinebench R15 single-core (219 vs 188), 73.8% in Cinebench R23 single-core (2,178 vs 1,253.5), and 18% in Geekbench single-core (1,568 vs 1,329).

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 4800H faster in multi-core tests?

A: It depends on the test. The 4800H wins Cinebench R15 multi-core (1,854 vs 1,555, +16.1%) and Passmark multithread (18,222 vs 18,154, +0.4%). However, the 3600X wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 38.6% (15,430 vs 11,135.5) and Geekbench multi-core by 20% (7,785 vs 6,490).

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each processor?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600X has 6 cores and 12 threads. The Ryzen 7 4800H has 8 cores and 16 threads.

Q: Which chip has more cache?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600X has 32 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 7 4800H has only 8 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core.

Q: Do both support the same memory types?

A: No. The 3600X supports DDR4 only. The 4800H supports DDR4 and LPDDR4. Both use a dual-channel memory bus with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: Only the Ryzen 7 4800H includes integrated Radeon Graphics 448SP. The Ryzen 5 3600X has no integrated graphics.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 3600X wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core, both Geekbench tests, Passmark find prime numbers, Passmark physics, and Passmark single-thread. If the workload involves rendering in Cinebench R23, general productivity in Geekbench, physics calculations, or any single-threaded task, the 3600X is the definitive winner. Its 233.3% lead in find prime numbers makes it the only choice for prime-number computation benchmarks.

The Ryzen 7 4800H wins in Cinebench R15 multi-core, Passmark data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating-point math, integer math, multithread, and random string sorting. For users running heavy integer or floating-point math workloads, data compression, or encryption tasks that scale across 16 threads, the 4800H offers a measurable edge—up to 22% in integer math. Its Passmark multithread win is marginal at 0.4%, but it is a win nonetheless.

In mixed use, the 3600X’s wins are more impactful due to their magnitude. A 73.8% lead in R23 single-core and a 38.6% lead in R23 multi-core outweigh the 4800H’s 22% best-case win in integer math. The 4800H is competitive only in narrowly defined parallel math workloads, while the 3600X dominates the broader benchmark suite.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | AMD Ryzen 7 4800H |

|---|---|---|

| Series | 3000 series | 4000 series |

| Cores | 6 | 8 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 2.90 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 4.20 GHz |

| TDP | 95 W | 45 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket FP6 |

| Codename | Matisse | Renoir |

| Transistors | 3,800 million | 9,800 million |

| Die Size | 74 mm² | 156 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 8 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR4, LPDDR4 |

| PCIe | Gen 4 | Gen 3 |

| Integrated Graphics | None | Radeon Graphics 448SP |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2019-07-06 | 2020-01-05 |

| Launch MSRP | $249 | Not specified |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | 100-000000022 | 100-000000098 |

The table highlights the fundamental platform split: the 3600X is a desktop chip with a higher TDP, unlocked multiplier, and PCIe Gen 4, while the 4800H is a mobile APU with integrated graphics, a lower TDP, and PCIe Gen 3. The 3600X’s higher clocks and larger L3 cache explain its single-thread dominance, while the 4800H’s extra two cores and higher transistor count enable its multi-threaded math wins.