AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT vs AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT are both Zen 2 processors, but they target different market segments. The 5700U is a mobile chip with a 15W TDP, while the 3600XT is a desktop chip with a 95W TDP. According to the database, their average benchmark scores are close: 18176 for the 5700U and 17891 for the 3600XT, with percentiles of 72 and 71 respectively. However, the head-to-head results reveal a decisive performance gap in most workloads.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Ryzen 5 3600XT wins 21 of the 23 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Ryzen 7 5700U wins only two. The 3600XT is the stronger processor for nearly every compute-intensive task, from multi-threaded rendering to single-threaded responsiveness. Its advantages range from a modest 3.6% in 3DMark single-thread to a massive 45.2% in Cinebench R23 multicore. The 5700U does win in PassMark floating point math and integer math, with margins of 10% and 16.8% respectively, but these are isolated victories. For anyone building a desktop system or needing maximum throughput, the 3600XT is the clear choice. The 5700U, with its integrated Radeon Graphics 512SP and 15W TDP, is designed for mobile systems where power efficiency and graphics output matter more than raw performance. The verdict: pick the 3600XT for performance, the 5700U for a mobile platform.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on the same 7 nm TSMC process and use the Zen 2 architecture, but they diverge in almost every other physical and functional aspect. The 5700U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the 3600XT has 6 cores and 12 threads. The 5700U operates at a base clock of 1800 MHz and boosts to 4.30 GHz; the 3600XT runs at 3.80 GHz base and 4.50 GHz boost. The 5700U has a 15W TDP, the 3600XT a 95W TDP. The 5700U uses the AMD Socket FP6, the 3600XT uses AMD Socket AM4. The 5700U is codenamed Lucienne, the 3600XT is Matisse 2. The 5700U has 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, while the 3600XT has 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. The L3 cache differs significantly: the 5700U has 8 MB shared, the 3600XT has 32 MB shared. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 512 KB L2 per core. Memory support is identical: DDR4, dual-channel, 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, no ECC. The 5700U uses PCIe Gen 3 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the 3600XT uses PCIe Gen 4. The 5700U includes integrated Radeon Graphics 512SP; the 3600XT has no integrated graphics. The 5700U is a mobile part, the 3600XT is desktop. The 5700U has a locked multiplier, the 3600XT is unlocked. The 5700U was released on 2021-01-11, the 3600XT on 2019-07-06. The 3600XT has a launch MSRP of $249; the 5700U has no listed launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The 5700U's two wins are in PassMark floating point math (33151 vs 30149, a 10% advantage) and PassMark integer math (60037 vs 51416, a 16.8% advantage). These are pure arithmetic workloads, and the 5700U's higher core count (8 vs 6) may contribute, though the 3600XT's higher clocks and larger cache do not overcome the core deficit in these specific tests. Every other benchmark favors the 3600XT. In 3DMark tests, the 3600XT leads by 3.6% (single-thread) to 12.9% (4-thread). In Cinebench, the 3600XT is 6.9% ahead in R15 multicore, 16.1% in R15 singlecore, 45.2% in R23 multicore, and 43.5% in R23 singlecore. Geekbench shows a 33.2% multicore and 23.3% singlecore advantage for the 3600XT. PassMark tests also favor the 3600XT: data compression by 5.1%, data encryption by 14.1%, extended instructions by 7.3%, find prime numbers by 74.3%, multithread by 15.8%, physics by 48.6%, random string sorting by 5.4%, and single-thread by 7%. The 3600XT's wins are broad and consistent, covering rendering, general productivity, and even single-threaded tasks. The 5700U's wins are narrow and do not translate into overall superiority.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 8 cores and 16 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT boosts to 4.50 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U boosts to 4.30 GHz.

Q: Does the Ryzen 7 5700U have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it has Radeon Graphics 512SP. The Ryzen 5 3600XT does not have integrated graphics.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has 32 MB shared L3, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has 8 MB shared L3.

Q: What is the TDP difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U has a 15W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has a 95W TDP.

Q: Which processor is unlocked for overclocking?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT has an unlocked multiplier; the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U does not.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win for the 3600XT is in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 15776 against the 5700U's 8650, a 45.2% advantage. This is a clear indicator of sustained multi-threaded performance. The single-core Cinebench R23 result is similarly lopsided: 2227 vs 1258, a 43.5% gap. Geekbench multicore shows a 33.2% lead (7973 vs 5323), and PassMark physics shows a 48.6% lead (1210 vs 622). The 3600XT also dominates in PassMark find prime numbers, scoring 113 vs 29, a 74.3% difference. In 3DMark, the 3600XT wins all five tests: 16-thread by 9.9%, 2-thread by 7%, 4-thread by 12.9%, 8-thread by 8.2%, max-thread by 9.8%, and single-thread by 3.6%. The 5700U's two wins are notable but smaller in magnitude: PassMark floating point math (33151 vs 30149, 10% higher) and PassMark integer math (60037 vs 51416, 16.8% higher). These are the only tests where the 5700U outperforms the 3600XT. The overall pattern is clear: the 3600XT is faster in every category except two specific math operations.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in the following fields:

• Cores: 8 (5700U) vs 6 (3600XT)
• Threads: 16 vs 12
• Base Clock: 1800 MHz vs 3.80 GHz
• Boost Clock: 4.30 GHz vs 4.50 GHz
• TDP: 15W vs 95W
• Socket: AMD Socket FP6 vs AMD Socket AM4
• Codename: Lucienne vs Matisse 2
• Transistors: 9,800 million vs 3,800 million
• Die Size: 156 mm² vs 74 mm²
• L3 Cache: 8 MB shared vs 32 MB shared
• PCIe: Gen 3, 12 Lanes (CPU only) vs Gen 4
• Integrated Graphics: Radeon Graphics 512SP vs none
• Market Segment: Mobile vs Desktop
• Release Date: 2021-01-11 vs 2019-07-06
• Launch MSRP: none vs $249
• Multiplier Unlocked: false vs true
• Part Number: 100-000000371 vs 100-100000281

All other specifications, including L1 and L2 cache sizes, memory support, memory bus, memory bandwidth, ECC support, process node, and foundry, are identical. The 5700U's higher core count and integrated graphics are offset by its lower clocks, smaller L3 cache, and much lower TDP, which explains its performance deficit in most benchmarks. The 3600XT's higher clocks, larger cache, and desktop power envelope give it a decisive edge in the majority of measured workloads.