AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents a genuinely unusual split. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 are both 6-core, 12-thread desktop parts with a 65 W TDP, yet the benchmark results do not point to a single, obvious champion. Instead, the database shows a tale of two different test suites. In the Cinebench R23 tests, the 5500GT is clearly ahead, winning multi-core by 24.4% and single-core by 20.8%. In almost every other recorded workload, the 7600 dominates, often by substantial margins. This means the choice depends heavily on which benchmark family a user trusts or which workload profile matches their usage.

For users running Cinebench R23 specifically, the 5500GT is the stronger part based on the recorded numbers. Its R23 multi-core score of 15848 versus 12735 for the 7600 is a significant gap, and its R23 single-core score of 2237 versus 1852 is equally decisive. However, the 7600 wins the older Cinebench R15 tests, taking multi-core by 31.7% and single-core by 24.5%. That contradiction is the most interesting finding in the data. It suggests that the two CPUs respond very differently to the specific rendering workloads in each Cinebench version, so a user who relies on one version of the benchmark would come to a completely different conclusion than someone using the other.

For general productivity, the 7600 is the stronger part. PassMark results show it ahead in data compression by 20%, data encryption by 16.7%, extended instructions by 26.2%, find prime numbers by 73%, floating point math by 23.7%, integer math by 20.3%, multithread by 29.8%, physics by 52.7%, random string sorting by 31.5%, and single thread by 21.6%. That is a sweeping set of wins. The 7600 also has the higher average benchmark score in the database at 26324, compared to 26748 for the 5500GT, although the 5500GT actually has the higher percentile rank at 79 versus 78. The near-identical average scores, with the 5500GT slightly higher, make the overall picture even more confusing.

The verdict for different user profiles is clear. A user whose workflow is dominated by Cinebench R23 rendering should pick the 5500GT. A user who wants broad general performance, especially in PassMark workloads, should pick the 7600. A user who is upgrading an existing AM4 system has a strong reason to consider the 5500GT, while a user building new on AM5 has a natural fit with the 7600. The data does not support a single "best" CPU, it supports two different CPUs for two different sets of priorities.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 has a boost clock of 5.10 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz.

Q: Are both CPUs on the same socket?

A: No. The 5500GT uses AMD Socket AM4, while the 7600 uses AMD Socket AM5. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR5 memory?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 supports DDR5, while the 5500GT supports DDR4. The 7600 also has a higher memory bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s compared to 51.2 GB/s for the 5500GT.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The 7600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 5500GT has 16 MB of L3 cache.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The 5500GT has an average benchmark score of 26748, which is slightly higher than the 7600's 26324. However, the 7600 has a lower percentile rank at 78, compared to 79 for the 5500GT.

Q: Which CPU wins more head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The 7600 wins 13 of the 15 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. The 5500GT wins only 2, both in Cinebench R23.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent two different generations of AMD's Zen architecture. The 5500GT is built on Zen 3, with the codename Cezanne, and is part of the 5000 series. The 7600 is built on Zen 4, with the codename Raphael, and is part of the 7000 series. This generational gap is reflected in the process node: the 5500GT uses TSMC's 7 nm process, while the 7600 uses TSMC's 5 nm process. The 7600's smaller node is also visible in its die size of 71 mm², compared to 180 mm² for the 5500GT. Interestingly, the 5500GT has more transistors at 10,700 million, versus 6,570 million for the 7600, which is a consequence of the older, larger process node.

Memory support is another major architectural difference. The 5500GT supports DDR4, while the 7600 supports DDR5. The 7600 also supports ECC memory, while the 5500GT does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the 5500GT offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the 7600 offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. That is a substantial upgrade in both bandwidth and lane count for the newer part.

The cache hierarchy is also different. Both CPUs have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the L2 cache differs: the 5500GT has 512 KB per core, while the 7600 has 1 MB per core. The L3 cache is 16 MB on the 5500GT, versus 32 MB shared on the 7600. The integrated graphics also differ, with the 5500GT featuring Radeon Vega 7 and the 7600 featuring Radeon Graphics, though no specific performance numbers for the iGPU are recorded in the database.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical, with both parts offering 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock differs, with the 5500GT at 3.60 GHz and the 7600 at 3.80 GHz. The boost clock difference is larger, at 4.40 GHz versus 5.10 GHz for the 7600. Both have a TDP of 65 W. The sockets are different, AM4 for the 5500GT and AM5 for the 7600. The 5500GT was released earlier, on 2024-01-07, while the 7600 was released on 2023-01-13. Both have an unlocked multiplier. The part numbers are 100-000001489 for the 5500GT and 100-000001015 for the 7600. Both are active production parts and both are desktop market segment parts. The 5500GT has a launch MSRP of $125, while the 7600 has a launch MSRP of $229.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear pattern: the 7600 wins the vast majority of tests, but the 5500GT wins the two most modern Cinebench tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 5500GT scores 15848 versus 12735 for the 7600, a delta of 24.4%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 5500GT scores 2237 versus 1852, a delta of 20.8%. These are the only two wins for the 5500GT in the entire head-to-head set.

The 7600's wins are numerous and often large. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 7600 scores 2339 versus 1597, a delta of 31.7%. In Cinebench R15 single-core, it scores 298 versus 225, a delta of 24.5%. In PassMark multithread, the 7600 scores 27058 versus 19000, a delta of 29.8%. In PassMark physics, the 7600 scores 1776 versus 840, a delta of 52.7%, which is the largest percentage win in the entire set. In PassMark find prime numbers, the 7600 scores 200 versus 54, a delta of 73%. In PassMark floating point math, the 7600 scores 48107 versus 36694, a delta of 23.7%. In PassMark integer math, it scores 80581 versus 64218, a delta of 20.3%. In PassMark data compression, it scores 304942 versus 243904, a delta of 20%. In PassMark data encryption, it scores 17704 versus 14754, a delta of 16.7%. In PassMark extended instructions, it scores 23071 versus 17027, a delta of 26.2%. In PassMark random string sorting, it scores 35904 versus 24583, a delta of 31.5%. In PassMark single thread, it scores 3910 versus 3066, a delta of 21.6%.

The contradiction between the R15 and R23 results is the most striking feature. In R15, the 7600 is ahead by roughly 25% to 32%, but in R23, the 5500GT is ahead by roughly 21% to 24%. This is not a small discrepancy, and it suggests that the two Cinebench versions are measuring very different aspects of CPU performance. The 7600 also has additional benchmark scores recorded in the database that the 5500GT lacks, including 3DMark tests. In 3DMark single thread, the 7600 scores 999, in 2 threads it scores 1938, in 4 threads 3686, in 8 threads 5508, in 16 threads 6499, and in max threads 6503. It also has Geekbench scores of 2521 single-core and 13413 multi-core. These additional data points further reinforce the 7600's general performance advantage.

Where Each One Wins

The 5500GT wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core and single-core. That makes it the better choice for anyone whose performance metric is specifically tied to that benchmark version. The data shows a 24.4% lead in multi-core and a 20.8% lead in single-core, which are substantial margins. For a user who runs R23 as part of a rendering workflow or as a validation tool, the 5500GT is the clear winner based on the recorded numbers.

The 7600 wins everywhere else. It dominates the older Cinebench R15 tests, all PassMark workloads, and has the additional 3DMark and Geekbench scores. Its wins range from 16.7% in data encryption to 73% in find prime numbers, and it wins the multithread and single-thread PassMark tests by 29.8% and 21.6% respectively. The 7600 also has the faster boost clock of 5.10 GHz, the larger L3 cache of 32 MB, the newer 5 nm process node, DDR5 support, ECC support, and 24 lanes of Gen 5 PCIe. For general productivity, scientific computing, encryption, compression, and any workload represented by the PassMark suite, the 7600 is the stronger part.

The platform implications also matter. The 5500GT uses AM4 and DDR4, making it a drop-in upgrade path for existing AM4 users. The 7600 uses AM5 and DDR5, which requires a newer motherboard and memory but offers a more modern foundation. The data itself does not make a value judgment about platforms, but the architectural differences are clear. The 5500GT wins the R23-only scenario, while the 7600 wins the broader performance picture. Users should weigh which benchmark family matches their actual workload, and which platform fits their upgrade path.