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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 9 9900X

The Ryzen 5 3600 is quite a bit slower than the Ryzen 9 9900X on average across 100+ games. However, it's a better value for money, as it's $203.10 cheaper!

  • Up to 151% cheaper$149.99 vs $353.09
  • Up to 41% better value for money
  • Up to 78% faster on average across 100+ games
  • Is 5 years and 2 months newer
  • Up to 151% more expensive$353.09 vs $149.99

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Scorehelp

Ryzen 9 9900X ranks 42 points higher.

Coreshelp

Ryzen 9 9900X has 6 more cores.

Threadshelp

Ryzen 9 9900X has 12 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Ryzen 9 9900X has 32 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Ryzen 9 9900X has a 22% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Ryzen 9 9900X boosts 33% higher.

TDPhelp

Ryzen 5 3600 draws 55W less power.

Pricehelp

Ryzen 5 3600 is $203.10 cheaper.

AM4
Sockethelp
AM5
Matisse
Codenamehelp
Granite Ridge
Desktop
Segmenthelp
Desktop
No Integrated Graphics
Integrated GPUhelp
Radeon Graphics
3200 MHz (DDR4)
RAMhelp
5600 MHz (DDR5)
Overclockable
Overclock Supporthelp
Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Ryzen 5 3600 or Ryzen 9 9900X?expand_more
The Ryzen 9 9900X. It's 117% faster than the Ryzen 5 3600 on average across 100+ games, scoring 78/100 vs 36/100 in our gaming rating.
speedHow much faster is Ryzen 9 9900X than Ryzen 5 3600?expand_more
117% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.
aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Ryzen 5 3600 or Ryzen 9 9900X?expand_more
The Ryzen 9 9900X is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.
paidIs the Ryzen 9 9900X worth buying in 2026?expand_more
It scores 78/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.
differenceWhat is the difference between Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 9 9900X?expand_more
Performance: Ryzen 5 3600 scores 36/100, Ryzen 9 9900X scores 78/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.
compressWill the Ryzen 5 3600 or Ryzen 9 9900X bottleneck my PC?expand_more
Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.
upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Ryzen 5 3600 or Ryzen 9 9900X?expand_more
The Ryzen 9 9900X is the stronger pick at 78/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.

Popular Comparisons

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