AMD Ryzen 5 5600 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a decisive picture: the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 wins 22 of the 23 recorded head-to-head comparisons, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G takes a single victory. The most dramatic gap appears in Cinebench R23, where the Ryzen 5 5600 scores 18,309 in multi-core versus 10,551 for the 5600G, a delta of 42.4%. The single-core result is even starker, with the 5600 at 2,584 against 1,409, a 45.5% difference. These are the largest margins in the entire dataset.

The pattern holds across other CPU-heavy workloads. In Geekbench multi-core, the 5600 leads with 9,158 against 8,428, an 8% advantage. Its single-core score of 1,936 beats 1,801 by 7%. The PassMark multi-thread test shows 21,541 versus 19,717, an 8.5% gap, while PassMark physics delivers 1,285 against 900, a 30% difference. Even in the 3DMark suite, which often reflects memory and platform behavior, the 5600 wins every sub-test: 5,641 versus 5,451 in 16-thread, 5,659 versus 5,455 in max-thread, and smaller edges in 2-thread, 4-thread, 8-thread, and single-thread runs, ranging from 1.1% to 3.6%.

The lone 5600G victory comes in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 17,334 against 16,993, a 2% edge. That is a narrow win, and it does little to offset the overall trend. The 5600 also leads in PassMark data compression (251,687 versus 249,302, a 0.9% gap), data encryption (15,531 versus 15,247, 1.8%), floating point math (38,778 versus 37,830, 2.4%), integer math (68,396 versus 67,344, 1.5%), and random string sorting (25,943 versus 25,354, 2.3%). In find prime numbers, the 5600 more than doubles the 5600G, scoring 137 versus 57, a 58.4% gap.

Cinebench R15 follows the same direction: the 5600 leads multi-core by 6.6% (1,845 versus 1,724) and single-core by 12.3% (260 versus 228). The 5600G has no meaningful counterweight. Its average benchmark score sits at 21,088 with a 74th percentile rank, while the 5600 averages 20,468, also at the 74th percentile. That near-identical percentile is interesting: despite losing nearly every head-to-head test, the 5600G lands in the same overall percentile band, which suggests its score distribution is more consistent across the wider benchmark set.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share the same fundamental design, Zen 3 on TSMC's 7 nm process, but they are built from different dies with different transistor counts and cache configurations. The 5600G uses the Cezanne die, measuring 180 mm² with 10,700 million transistors. The 5600 uses the Vermeer die, which is far smaller at 74 mm² and packs 4,150 million transistors. That difference in die size and transistor count is not just a curiosity; it reflects how each chip was assembled and what resources were allocated.

The 5600G integrates Radeon Vega 7 graphics, which explains the larger die. The 5600 has no integrated graphics at all, which is why it can use a smaller, compute-focused die. The cache hierarchy also differs. The 5600G carries 16 MB of L3 cache, while the 5600 has 32 MB of shared L3. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, so the L3 difference is the key architectural gap.

The memory controllers are identical in bandwidth: both support DDR4 dual-channel at 51.2 GB/s. However, the 5600 supports ECC memory, while the 5600G does not. The PCIe implementation also differs. The 5600G provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the 5600 offers Gen 4 with 20 lanes. That is a significant platform-level difference for users who need high-throughput storage or newer GPUs.

Clock speeds are close but not equal. The 5600G has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, while the 5600 runs at 3.50 GHz. Both boost to 4.40 GHz. The higher base clock on the 5600G is likely a concession to its integrated graphics and the need to keep the whole package responsive, but the benchmark data shows that the 5600 still wins in single-thread and multi-thread tests, so the base clock advantage does not translate into a performance lead.

The release dates are different: the 5600G launched on April 12, 2021, while the 5600 followed on April 19, 2022. Both are active production parts, both use Socket AM4, and both have unlocked multipliers. The 5600G has the part number 100-000000252100-100000252BOX100-100000252MPK, while the 5600 uses 100-000000927.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 5 5600 is the clear winner in almost every measurable CPU workload. Its 42.4% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 45.5% lead in single-core are the standout results, and they point to a processor that delivers substantially higher throughput in rendering, simulation, and general compute tasks. The 30% edge in PassMark physics reinforces this, as does the 8% gap in Geekbench multi-core. For users running heavily threaded applications, video encoding, or scientific workloads, the 5600 is the obvious choice.

The 5600G has one winning benchmark, PassMark extended instructions, with a 2% margin. That test typically measures vectorized and specialized instruction throughput, and while the win is real, it is narrow. Outside of that, the 5600G trails by single digits in most tests, but the gap widens dramatically in the Cinebench and physics workloads. The 5600G's advantage is not in raw compute; it is in its integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics, which the 5600 lacks entirely. That makes the 5600G the pick for systems without a discrete GPU.

The 5600 also wins in memory-related and platform-level metrics. Its PCIe Gen 4 support with 20 lanes is ahead of the 5600G's Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and its ECC memory support adds a reliability feature that the 5600G cannot offer. The 5600G's higher base clock of 3.90 GHz versus 3.50 GHz does not yield a benchmark win anywhere, which suggests that the 5600's larger L3 cache and smaller, more efficient die more than compensate.

For users who already have a discrete GPU, the 5600 is the stronger processor in every recorded test except one. For users who need a complete package without a GPU, the 5600G's integrated graphics make it functional out of the box, even if its CPU performance is lower.

Specification Differences

The two processors share the same core count, thread count, TDP, socket, architecture, process node, foundry, memory type, memory bus, memory bandwidth, market segment, production status, and unlocked multiplier. The differences are concentrated in a few fields.

The 5600G has a base clock of 3.90 GHz, while the 5600 runs at 3.50 GHz. Both boost to 4.40 GHz. The 5600G uses the Cezanne die, measuring 180 mm² with 10,700 million transistors. The 5600 uses the Vermeer die, measuring 74 mm² with 4,150 million transistors. The 5600G has 16 MB of L3 cache, while the 5600 has 32 MB of shared L3.

The 5600G includes Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics; the 5600 has no integrated graphics. The 5600G supports ECC memory; the 5600 does not. The 5600G provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU; the 5600 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes. The 5600G was released on April 12, 2021; the 5600 on April 19, 2022. The 5600G has a launch MSRP of $259; the 5600 has a launch MSRP of $199.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600 wins decisively. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 18,309 versus 10,551 for the 5600G, a 42.4% gap. Geekbench multi-core shows 9,158 against 8,428, an 8% difference.

Q: Does the 5600G ever beat the 5600 in any benchmark?

A: Yes, in PassMark extended instructions, the 5600G scores 17,334 versus 16,993, a 2% lead. That is the only win in the 23 recorded head-to-head tests.

Q: How do the cache sizes compare?

A: The 5600 has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the 5600G has 16 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core.

Q: What is the difference in integrated graphics?

A: The 5600G includes Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics, while the 5600 has no integrated graphics at all. This is a major factor for systems without a discrete GPU.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The 5600 supports ECC memory, while the 5600G does not.

Q: Which processor has faster PCIe connectivity?

A: The 5600 provides PCIe Gen 4 with 20 lanes from the CPU, while the 5600G provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Ryzen 5 5600 is the superior CPU in nearly every measurable way, winning 22 of 23 head-to-head benchmarks. Its advantages range from small single-digit margins in PassMark integer math and data compression to massive gaps of over 40% in Cinebench R23. For anyone building a system with a discrete GPU, the 5600 is the clear choice. It offers better multi-core and single-core performance, larger L3 cache, PCIe Gen 4 support, ECC memory support, and a lower launch MSRP of $199.

The 5600G is not without a purpose. Its integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics make it a self-contained solution for systems that will never see a discrete GPU. Its higher base clock of 3.90 GHz and its single win in PassMark extended instructions show that it is not a weak chip, just a slower one in compute-heavy tasks. The 5600G also holds the 74th percentile rank among all CPUs, matching the 5600, so it is still a capable processor in the broader market.

The decision comes down to whether integrated graphics are needed. If they are, the 5600G is the only option here. If they are not, the 5600 delivers more performance in every meaningful workload, and the benchmark data leaves no room for debate.