AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Review in 2022 – Why it Might be the Best Value CPU for You!

Table of Contents

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Review

One of the biggest reasons for the increased AMD support over the years is that their value moto has always been simple – more for less.

While we usually think of AMD offering more CPU cores than Intel for less money, the same strategy also goes for the company’s unrestrained feature sets for each processor, regardless of price.

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Review In 2022

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Review In 2021 – Why It Might Be The Best Value CPU For You!

most advanced processor
ultra-fast 100+ FPS performance
most popular games
6 cores and 12 processing

That features in-box coolers, Hyper-Threading (AMD calls it SMT), and unlocked multipliers that allow for simple overclocking,

all of which are specs that Intel either ignores or disables on some of its chips in the name of segmentation.

Check Latest Price

Related Guide: Does Motherboard Affect Performance?😀

Instead of sneaking in some extra dollars from its consumers, AMD gifts you the same basic underlying features with the $199 six-core 12-thread Ryzen 5 3600 that it gives you with its full-fledged counterpart, the $249 Ryzen 5 3600X.

In simple words, the Ryzen 5 3600 has the same six-core 12-thread design, 32MB of L3 cache, and access to 24 lanes of PCIe 4.0, with the only difference being a step back to the 65W Wraith Stealth cooler, while the 3600X comes with the more-capable 95W Wraith Spire cooler.

This follows the same AMD pattern we have been noticing in the not-so-distant past, with overclocking abilities making the non-X models a better value for gamers and editors than the more expensive X-series models.

However, if you’re on the hunt for the best frame rates you can get out of a six-core processor, be aware that the Ryzen 5 3600 chips might not reach the peak overclocking speeds of 3600X models.

Anyways, the great combination of features and overclock ability makes the Ryzen 5 3600 the clear choice for enthusiasts looking for a great value on a mid-range processor.

Related Guide: What Does The Motherboard Do In A Computer?

Let’s Dig Deeper into the Ryzen 5 3600 Now

Features

Similar to other Ryzen 3000 chips, the six-core 12-thread Ryzen 5 3600 comes with a 7nm compute die (with two disabled physical cores) coupled with a 12nm I/O die.
These two components come synced in a single package that fits inside a 65W TDP envelope, making it physically identical to the 95W Ryzen 5 3600X. The Ryzen 5 3600 has slightly lower clock speeds than the 3600X, with its 3.6 GHz base and 4.2 GHz Precision Boost 2 frequencies, a difference of 200 MHz in both measurements.
The 3600’s 4.2 GHz boost frequency is lesser than the $192 Core i5-9500’s 4.4 GHz boost, however, its 3.6 GHz base frequency equates to a 600 MHz advantage that, coupled with AMD’s drastic improvement to its instruction per cycle (IPC) throughput, will result in higher performance in heavy games and apps.
When putting face to face with the $182 Core i5-9400F, the 3600 has an 800 MHz base and 100 MHz boost frequency advantage.
The Ryzen 5 3600 comes with an integrated 65W Wraith Stealth cooler, and while both the Core i5-9500 and -9400F come with stock coolers, they are of relatively cheaper quality.
Keep in mind that both the Intel processors come with integrated graphics, while the Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete graphics card.
The Ryzen 5 3600 comes with a decent 32MB of total L3 cache, almost double the capacity of its predecessor and more than three times the cache of the -9500 and -9400F.
That does come with a few cons, however, as cache performance and efficiency deeply affects how much cache capacity benefits the processor in typical applications.
The Ryzen 5 3600 drops into the AM4 CPU socket on the new X570 motherboards, which you’ll require for official support for the PCIe 4.0 interface.
However, those new boards are more pricy than previous-gen models and aren’t a great match for value chips like the Ryzen 5 3600.
The good thing is that you can also use an older 400-series motherboard (a B450 would do great) as a cheaper alternative.
However, you will then get deprived of PCIe 4.0, which is one of the main selling points of the new processors.
Ryzen 3000 chips officially support dual-channel DDR4-3200, a step up from the previous-gen’s support for DDR4-2966.
AMD has greatly improved its memory compatibility and overclocking capabilities, but you still have to abide by rules that dictate the maximum supported frequency based on DIMM type and slot population.
Ryzen 3000 also supports memory overclocking, either by hand-tuning or one-click A-XMP profiles with pricier kits, to skirt those rules.

Pros

Low price
Excellent performance in gaming and applications
PCIe 4.0 support
bundled cooler
Low power consumption
Unlocked multiplier
Backward compatibility

Cons

No cheap B-series motherboards with PCIe 4.0
Limited overclocking headroom
No integrated graphics

Final Verdict:

The Ryzen 5 3600 is a great 65W chip for small form factor maniacs, syncing quite the punch in a compact thermal package.

After the simplest of overclocking, it offers nearly the same performance as its more expensive counterpart, and that too at a $50 discount. That makes the Ryzen 5 3600 the undisputed Best Value CPU in this price range.

Check Price On Amazon