AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs AMD Ryzen 5 8500G Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database records 23 head-to-head comparisons between the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G. The newer 8500G takes 17 of those wins, while the 5600G secures 6. The margin of victory tells a more nuanced story than the raw win count.

The single largest gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the 8500G scores 18,368 against the 5600G's 10,551. That is a 42.6% advantage for the 8500G. The single-core version of the same test shows an even steeper percentage gap: 2,593 versus 1,409, a 45.7% lead. These two results anchor the 8500G's dominance in heavily threaded and lightly threaded CPU workloads alike.

Geekbench results follow the same pattern. The 8500G posts 2,354 in single-core against 1,801 for the 5600G, a 23.5% difference. In multi-core, the 8500G reaches 9,444 versus 8,428, a 10.8% edge. The 3DMark single-thread test also favors the 8500G by 12.6% (998 versus 872), while the 2-thread variant shows a 10.9% lead (1,913 versus 1,705).

The 5600G, however, is not without its own victories. It wins the 3DMark 16-thread test with 5,451 versus 5,224, a 4.3% margin. It also takes the 4-thread test (3,258 versus 3,130, a 4.1% edge) and the 8-thread test (4,694 versus 4,565, a 2.8% lead). The max-threads variant goes to the 5600G as well, 5,455 versus 5,213, a 4.6% difference.

PassMark tests split decisively. The 5600G wins data encryption (15,247 versus 14,220, a 7.2% margin) and integer math (67,344 versus 63,123, a 6.7% edge). The 8500G takes floating point math (39,074 versus 37,830, a 3.2% lead), extended instructions (19,098 versus 17,334, a 9.2% advantage), multithread (21,610 versus 19,717, an 8.8% gap), and random string sorting (29,407 versus 25,354, a 13.8% difference). Prime number finding shows a 34.5% advantage for the 8500G (87 versus 57), and physics simulation swings 31.7% toward the 8500G (1,318 versus 900). Data compression is nearly a tie: 250,197 versus 249,302, a 0.4% edge for the 8500G.

The overall picture is clear: the 8500G dominates single-threaded and modern multi-threaded workloads, while the 5600G holds only a narrow set of wins in older 3DMark thread-count tests and two specific PassMark math categories.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and platforms. The 5600G belongs to the 5000 series, uses Zen 3 architecture with the Cezanne codename, and fits AMD Socket AM4. The 8500G is from the 8000 series, uses Zen 4 architecture with the Phoenix2 codename, and fits AMD Socket AM5.

Manufacturing processes differ substantially. The 5600G is built on a 7 nm node at TSMC, with 10,700 million transistors on a 180 mm² die. The 8500G moves to a 4 nm node, also at TSMC, but packs 20,900 million transistors onto a smaller 137 mm² die. That is nearly double the transistor count in a smaller physical area.

Core and thread counts are identical: both have 6 cores and 12 threads. Cache configurations differ in L2 only. The 5600G has 512 KB of L2 per core, while the 8500G doubles that to 1 MB per core. L1 stays at 64 KB per core for both, and L3 is 16 MB on each, though the 8500G lists it as shared.

Clock speeds tell part of the performance story. The 5600G has a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost of 4.40 GHz. The 8500G starts lower at 3.50 GHz base but boosts higher to 5.00 GHz. That higher boost explains much of the single-thread advantage seen in the benchmarks.

Memory support is a major platform divider. The 5600G uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The 8500G uses DDR5 with dual-channel support and 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The 8500G also supports ECC memory, which the 5600G does not.

PCIe generations differ as well. The 5600G offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. The 8500G provides PCIe Gen 4 with 14 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics move from Radeon Vega 7 on the 5600G to Radeon 740M on the 8500G.

The 8500G is classified as a Mobile market segment part, while the 5600G is Desktop. The 5600G has an unlocked multiplier; the 8500G does not. Release dates are far apart: the 5600G launched on 2021-04-12, and the 8500G on 2024-01-07.

Where Each One Wins

The 5600G wins in a narrow band of workloads. Its 3DMark victories at 16, 8, 4, and max threads suggest it handles moderate thread counts with relatively consistent scaling. It also wins PassMark data encryption and integer math, which are specific compute patterns that favor its Zen 3 layout and higher base clock.

The 8500G wins across nearly every modern CPU benchmark. Its single-thread dominance, shown by 12.6% to 45.7% leads across 3DMark, Cinebench, and Geekbench, makes it the better choice for lightly threaded applications such as office work, web browsing, and most games that rely on a few fast cores. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core result, 74% higher than the 5600G, points to strong performance in video encoding, 3D rendering, and other threaded productivity tasks.

The 8500G also leads in PassMark multithread (8.8%), physics (31.7%), random string sorting (13.8%), and extended instructions (9.2%). These map to simulation, data processing, and modern instruction-set workloads. The data compression result is effectively tied, so neither chip has a meaningful edge there.

In summary, the 5600G is competitive only in a few legacy thread-count tests and two math categories. The 8500G is the clear winner for general-purpose computing, especially anything that benefits from higher boost clocks, DDR5 bandwidth, or newer instruction support.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G. It scores 2,593 in Cinebench R23 single-core versus 1,409 for the 5600G, a 45.7% difference. Geekbench single-core also favors the 8500G at 2,354 versus 1,801.

Q: How do the two compare in multi-threaded workloads?

A: The 8500G leads in Cinebench R23 multi-core with 18,368 versus 10,551, a 42.6% advantage. Geekbench multi-core shows 9,444 versus 8,428, a 10.8% edge. PassMark multithread also goes to the 8500G at 21,610 versus 19,717.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the 5600G wins?

A: Yes. The 5600G wins 3DMark 16-thread (5,451 versus 5,224), 8-thread (4,694 versus 4,565), 4-thread (3,258 versus 3,130), and max-threads (5,455 versus 5,213). It also wins PassMark data encryption (15,247 versus 14,220) and integer math (67,344 versus 63,123).

Q: What platform differences matter between the two?

A: The 5600G uses Socket AM4 with DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3. The 8500G uses Socket AM5 with DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 4, and ECC support. Memory bandwidth jumps from 51.2 GB/s to 83.2 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The 8500G boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the 5600G boosts to 4.40 GHz. The 5600G has a higher base clock at 3.90 GHz versus 3.50 GHz for the 8500G.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes. Both have 6 cores and 12 threads. They differ in L2 cache size, with the 8500G providing 1 MB per core versus 512 KB per core for the 5600G.

The Verdict

The benchmark data points to a clear recommendation for most users: the AMD Ryzen 5 8500G. It wins 17 of 23 head-to-head tests, and its victories include the most demanding modern workloads. Cinebench R23 multi-core shows a 74% higher score, and single-core performance is roughly 46% better. For anyone building a new system and choosing between these two, the 8500G delivers substantially better raw CPU performance in nearly every metric.

The 5600G is only preferable in a specific scenario: if the workload relies heavily on the exact patterns in its six winning tests, namely certain 3DMark thread-count runs, data encryption, and integer math. Those wins are real but narrow, with margins between 2.8% and 7.2%. They do not offset the 8500G's broad advantages elsewhere.

Platform considerations reinforce the verdict. The 8500G's DDR5 support and 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a memory subsystem advantage that the 5600G cannot match. The 8500G also supports ECC memory, which may matter for specific professional use cases. The 5600G's only platform advantages are its unlocked multiplier and its older AM4 socket, which may be relevant for users with existing AM4 boards.

For new builds, the 8500G is the stronger processor. For upgrades to an existing AM4 system, the 5600G may still be a sensible choice, but only if the rest of the platform is already in place.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G | AMD Ryzen 5 8500G |

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

| Series | 5000 series | 8000 series |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Cezanne | Phoenix2 |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket AM5 |

| Base Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.40 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 4 nm |

| Transistors | 10,700 million | 20,900 million |

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 137 mm² |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 83.2 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | false | true |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Vega 7 | Radeon 740M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2021-04-12 | 2024-01-07 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | true | false |

| Launch MSRP | $259 | $179 |