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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT and AMD Ryzen 5 8500G are both 6-core, 12-thread desktop processors with integrated graphics, but they represent two distinct generations of AMD’s product stack. The 5600GT is built on the Zen 3 architecture for the AM4 platform, while the 8500G uses the newer Zen 4 architecture on the AM5 platform. Benchmark data shows a clear split: the 8500G wins 17 of 25 head-to-head tests, largely on single-thread and synthetic integer workloads, while the 5600GT counters with 8 wins in multi-threaded 3DMark tests and several PassMark math workloads. Neither chip dominates outright, and both land at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, making the choice highly dependent on platform preferences and specific workload priorities.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8500G boosts to 5.00 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT tops out at 4.60 GHz. The 8500G also has a slightly lower base clock of 3.50 GHz compared to 3.60 GHz on the 5600GT.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-threaded rendering performance?

A: The 8500G leads in all Cinebench multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the 8500G scores 18,368 against 17,272 for the 5600GT, a 6% advantage. The gap is consistent at 6% in both Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core tests as well.

Q: Which processor wins in single-threaded performance?

A: The 8500G wins every single-threaded benchmark. The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 2,354 versus 1,843 for the 5600GT, a 21.7% lead. PassMark single-thread shows a 14% difference, with 3,891 versus 3,348.

Q: What are the memory and platform differences?

A: The 5600GT uses DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the 8500G uses DDR5 with dual-channel support and 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The 5600GT is on AMD Socket AM4, whereas the 8500G requires AMD Socket AM5.

Q: Is there a difference in integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The 5600GT features a Radeon Vega 7 iGPU, while the 8500G comes with a Radeon 740M. The 8500G also supports ECC memory, which the 5600GT does not.

Q: Which chip has more L2 cache per core?

A: The 8500G has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, double the 512 KB per core found on the 5600GT. Both share 16 MB of L3 cache, though the 5600GT lists it as 16 MB while the 8500G specifies 16 MB shared.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by two full architecture generations. The 5600GT is built on Zen 3 with the codename Cezanne, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The 8500G uses Zen 4 under the codename Phoenix2 and is fabricated on a 4 nm process, also at TSMC. This process shrink is reflected in the transistor counts: the 8500G packs 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the 5600GT has 10,700 million on a larger 180 mm² die.

Cache hierarchies differ beyond the L2 doubling on the 8500G. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 16 MB of L3, but the 5600GT’s L3 is listed as 16 MB without the "shared" qualifier, while the 8500G explicitly states 16 MB shared. The 8500G’s larger L2 per core likely contributes to its strong single-threaded performance in benchmarks like Geekbench, where it leads by 21.7%.

Platform support diverges significantly. The 5600GT runs on AMD Socket AM4 with PCIe Gen 3 (16 lanes CPU-only), while the 8500G uses AMD Socket AM5 with PCIe Gen 4 (14 lanes CPU-only). Memory support also differs: the 5600GT is limited to DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, whereas the 8500G supports DDR5 and nearly doubles bandwidth to 83.2 GB/s. The 8500G also adds ECC memory support, a feature absent from the 5600GT.

The 8500G is classified as a Mobile market segment part despite being used in desktop contexts, while the 5600GT is explicitly a Desktop part. Both were released on the same date and remain active in production. The 5600GT has an unlocked multiplier, while the 8500G is locked. The integrated graphics differ as well: Radeon Vega 7 on the 5600GT versus Radeon 740M on the 8500G.

The Verdict

The data points to the 8500G as the more capable overall processor, winning 17 of 25 head-to-head benchmarks. Its single-threaded dominance is decisive: it leads by 8.5% in 3DMark single-thread, 6% in Cinebench R23 single-core, and 21.7% in Geekbench single-core. For users prioritizing responsiveness, lightly threaded applications, or ECC memory support, the 8500G is the clear choice from the benchmark evidence.

However, the 5600GT is not without merit. It wins 8 tests, including all 3DMark multi-threaded workloads (4, 8, and 16 threads) with margins ranging from 5.7% to 10.1%. It also outperforms the 8500G in PassMark data encryption by 11.6%, integer math by 10.2%, and floating-point math by 1.9%. These wins suggest the 5600GT retains an edge in certain math-heavy and encryption workloads, despite its older architecture.

The platform decision may be the deciding factor. The 5600GT works on the mature AM4 socket with DDR4 memory, which could be relevant for users with existing AM4 boards. The 8500G requires AM5 and DDR5, representing a newer investment. Both chips share the same 65 W TDP and land at the 74th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a runaway winner in aggregate performance. The 8500G’s higher boost clock (5.00 GHz versus 4.60 GHz) and newer process node give it the architectural edge, but the 5600GT’s wins in multi-threaded 3DMark and integer workloads show it is still competitive in specific scenarios.

Specification Differences

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

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

| Series | 5000 series | 8000 series |

| Architecture | Zen 3 | Zen 4 |

| Codename | Cezanne | Phoenix2 |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 4 nm |

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

| Die Size | 180 mm² | 137 mm² |

| Base Clock | 3.60 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| 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) |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM4 | AMD Socket AM5 |

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

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Multiplier Unlocked | true | false |

| Launch MSRP | $140 | $179 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 8500G’s single-threaded superiority is the most consistent pattern in the data. In 3DMark single-thread, it scores 998 versus 913 for the 5600GT, an 8.5% advantage. This extends to Cinebench R15 single-core (261 vs 245, 6.1% lead), Cinebench R20 single-core (1,089 vs 1,023, 6.1% lead), and Cinebench R23 single-core (2,593 vs 2,438, 6% lead). The Geekbench single-core gap is the largest of any benchmark at 21.7%, with scores of 2,354 and 1,843 respectively.

Multi-threaded performance tells a split story. The 8500G wins all three Cinebench multi-core tests by 6%: R15 scores 1,851 versus 1,740, R20 scores 7,714 versus 7,254, and R23 scores 18,368 versus 17,272. Geekbench multi-core also favors the 8500G by 15.4%, with 9,444 versus 7,986. PassMark multithread shows a 5.9% lead for the 8500G, scoring 21,610 against 20,325.

The 5600GT fights back in 3DMark multi-threaded tests. It wins 3DMark 16-threads with 5,523 versus 5,224 (5.7%), 3DMark 4-threads with 3,446 versus 3,130 (10.1%), 3DMark 8-threads with 4,968 versus 4,565 (8.8%), and 3DMark max-threads with 5,554 versus 5,213 (6.5%). These are substantial margins that suggest the 5600GT’s Zen 3 architecture handles certain multi-threaded simulation workloads more efficiently than the 8500G’s Zen 4 implementation.

PassMark results are mixed. The 5600GT wins data compression by 3.5% (258,882 vs 250,197), data encryption by 11.6% (15,873 vs 14,220), floating-point math by 1.9% (39,817 vs 39,074), and integer math by 10.2% (69,566 vs 63,123). The 8500G counters with wins in extended instructions by 5.5% (19,098 vs 18,041), find prime numbers by 34.5% (87 vs 57), physics by 33.6% (1,318 vs 875), and random string sorting by 10.9% (29,407 vs 26,188). The 8500G’s massive leads in prime number finding and physics are notable, indicating strong performance in those specific computational patterns.

The overall win count is 17 for the 8500G and 8 for the 5600GT. The 8500G’s wins are more numerous and often larger in magnitude, particularly in single-threaded and synthetic physics workloads. The 5600GT’s wins are concentrated in 3DMark multi-threaded tests and PassMark math operations, where it shows a clear edge in integer and encryption performance.