Recently we took a look at how well the Ryzen 5 3600 performed in games when paired with the GeForce RTX 3080 and nosotros did this upon readers and viewers' request. That concluded up existence a very popular examination and since the release of the Radeon RX 6800 series we've seen but as many requests for a repeat but this fourth dimension using the Radeon GPU.

Since our first test, there have as well been new relevant game releases and we suspect once you tin actually purchase it, the RX 6800 will be a pop graphics card option. With so many of you using the nonetheless amazing Ryzen 5 3600, information technology makes sense to see how it performs with the new RDNA2 GPU -- though right now nosotros feel the Intel Cadre i5-10400F is a better value buy, so perhaps a comparison with that part in the coming weeks might exist a good idea.

For this article nosotros're going to expect at performance in 21 games at 1080p, 1440p and 4K with the R5 3600 in a stock configuration using 32GB of DDR4-3200 CL14 memory. We've not bothered to overclock the Ryzen processor this time and accept instead opted to add more games.

Also please note the Ryzen 9 3950X and Core i9-10900K accept been included purely as reference points and have non been overclocked either. This isn't a CPU vs. CPU content piece, rather we're just seeing how close the Ryzen 5 3600 can get to delivering $500+ CPU operation in games.

Likewise we didn't include a Zen 3 processor, which we deemed unnecessary equally the 10900K serves the purpose of representing high-stop flagship tier performance. With that, let's leap into the criterion graphs…

Benchmarks

Starting with Godfall, we find a substantial operation deviation at 1080p betwixt the Ryzen 5 3600 and Cadre i9-10900K when paired with the RX 6800, hither the flagship Intel processor was virtually 20% faster.

The margin is reduced to 13% at 1440p, and while you are giving upwardly around 10 fps, the performance is withal acceptable with the Ryzen five, maintaining over 60 fps at all times. Once we jump up to 4K we're now entirely GPU express and the CPU pick makes little to no departure.

Picket Dogs: Legion isn't a peculiarly CPU intensive game and every bit a result the R5 3600 isn't a great deal slower than the 3950X and 10900K at 1080p -- nosotros're talking about an 8% delta.

And so at 1440p, the resolution yous're more likely to game at with an RX 6800, the Ryzen 5 processor is able to become the most out of the new Radeon GPU, and of course, the same likewise applies at 4K.

Another game that won't stress the Ryzen 5 processor is Clay five, here the 3600 was 6% slower than the 10900K at 1080p, while it matched it at 1440p and 4K. And then nosotros're getting the nigh out of the RX 6800 in this title.

The R5 3600 also performed well in Assassin'southward Creed Valhalla, matching the 3950X at all three tested resolutions while only trailing the 10900K by a 6% margin at 1080p.

For testing Shadow of the Tomb Raider we're non using the congenital-in criterion as we find bodily gameplay to be more CPU enervating, specially where we examination. The R5 3600 was 11% slower than the 10900K at 1080p, though despite that we're entirely GPU limited at 1440p, and and then of course 4K.

Using the latest version of Cyberpunk 2077 (i.06 as of this test) we find that performance with the Ryzen 5 3600 is excellent, matching the 3950X at all 3 tested resolutions. In fact, the 3600 was a mere 6% slower than the 10900K at 1080p with the RX 6800, so a very impressive result in this new and very demanding title.

The Ryzen v processor was blistering fast in Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, allowing for over 400 fps at 1080p and that meant it was only 7% slower than the 10900K. That said, at 1440p information technology matched the Core i9 processor and as a result we're also looking at identical performance at 4K.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood like nearly games isn't CPU express when using modernistic 6-core/12-thread processors like the R5 3600. Therefore we're seeing comparable performance between the 3600, 3950X and 10900K.

We're but looking at a very pocket-size operation pass up in F1 2022 with the Ryzen 5, at 1080p it was viii% slower than the 10900K, 6% slower at 1440p with piffling to no difference at 4K. So while slower at 1080p and 1440p, we're talking about single digit percentages differences that y'all're very unlikely to notice.

Nosotros're also looking at an 8% operation decline at 1080p and 1440p in Horizon Cipher Dawn when comparing the Ryzen 5 3600 to the 10900K. It's not until we reach 4K that the game becomes almost entirely GPU jump.

Similar Shadow of the Tomb Raider, we're testing Cherry Dead Redemption two in game rather than using the congenital-in benchmark. The R5 3600 was just 5% slower than the 10900K at 1080p but was able to lucifer information technology at 1440p and 4K.

Testing with Globe War Z saw the Ryzen 5 processor trailing past a 9% margin at 1080p when compared to the 3950X and 10900K -- we're talking about almost 200 fps where the margin is less important though. That's reduced to iv% at 1440p and past the time we hit 4K all iii CPUs will deliver an identical experience.

The 3600 was 11% slower than the 10900K in Metro Exodus at 1080p and 1440p, though in the case of the 1080p results we're once more still talking about 200 fps on boilerplate with the Ryzen 5 processor.

Resident Evil iii isn't at all CPU demanding and as a issue when using the RX 6800 nosotros see no divergence in performance between the three CPUs tested, even at 1080p.

Doom Eternal is nevertheless another game that's more than GPU bound, though at 1080p the R5 3600 was half-dozen% slower than the 10900K, at 1440p performance is the same and so we're looking at identical frames at 4K.

Moving on to Expiry Stranding, hither we have a game that is CPU intensive and when it comes to the Zen 2 architecture it can and volition take advantage of more than than 6 cores.

Information technology'southward rare in today'due south games that you'll see the 3950X delivering nearly 30% more operation, but that's what nosotros got at 1080p. The R5 3600 was still providing smoothen gameplay with well over 100 fps nonetheless.

Increasing the resolution to 1440p reduces the CPU clogging with the R5 3600 as we become more GPU bound, then the Ryzen v processor was about 10% slower than the flagship parts when comparing 1% low performance.

Hitman 2 behaves a lot similar Decease Stranding. We're looking at a 27% operation boost from the R5 3600 to the 3950X at 1080p, while the 10900K is nigh 40% faster. Even so, at 1440p those margins are drastically reduced as the game requires more GPU power, and so at present the 10900K is just 9% faster than the 3600 and at 4K nosotros come across no difference at all.

Testing with State of war Thunder sees no performance difference betwixt these 3 CPUs, then the Ryzen 5 3600 is able to become the most out of the Radeon RX 6800, even at 1080p.

The R5 3600 performs quite well in The Witcher 3, trailing the 10900K by but 8% at 1080p and 1440p. At 1440p nosotros're looking at 100+ fps at all times.

PUBG at present plays a lot better on Zen 2 processors. Hither we see the R5 3600 matching the 10900K at all tested resolutions.

Finally we have Gears 5 results, where the 3600 merely dropped a few frames at 1080p and was able to friction match the flagship processors at 1440p and 4K. A swell result overall for the plucky little 6-core Zen 2 processor.

Performance Summary

That's all 21 games and we take to say, it looks like the Ryzen 5 3600 fared really well, often non leaving a great deal of operation on the table at 1440p and nothing at 4K. The 1080p data we feel is more than for science than it is practical use example just obviously for those seeking maximum performance at 1080p the R5 3600 isn't always ideal.

Let's take a look at the average fps data cross our 21 game sample.

Looking at averages nosotros encounter that at 1080p the Ryzen 5 3600 is 8% slower than the Cadre i9-10900K and just half-dozen% slower than the Ryzen 9 3950X. And then you won't always be able to become the about out of the RX 6800 with the Ryzen five processor, but for most of you lot information technology'south so close it won't warrant a CPU upgrade.

And so if you're gaming at 1440p, it's rare when you will notice the R5 3600 performing any slower than even the 10900K, hither information technology was just four% slower on average. If you're gaming at 4K or any resolution greater than 2560x1440, the CPU won't really matter, as long equally it's equal to or faster than the 3600.

Out of involvement, hither'due south a look back at how the 3600, 3950X and 10900K compared in a fifteen game sample with the GeForce RTX 3080. Here the R5 3600 was 15% slower than the 10900K at 1080p and 8% slower at 1440p. So worse than the margins seen with the RX 6800, though this can be due to a number of factors such as the games used and commuter overhead.

What We Learned

Those of you lot using a Ryzen five 3600 who might exist concerned well-nigh needing to replace your CPU when upgrading to a Radeon RX 6800, we think for most the reply is unproblematic: stick with the Zen ii processor for now. The upgrade to a 5800X or ameliorate, which should see comparable functioning to what was just seen with the 10900K, won't be worth the investment for gaming.

For at present you tin still get away with a six-core/12-thread Zen 2 processor, unless you're doing something more than demanding on the side, like streaming, for example. Spending $450 on the 5800X but isn't going to be worth it, and even if a $200-ish Ryzen 5 5600 existed, nosotros're not sure information technology'd exist worth the upgrade either.

That covers information technology for those of y'all already rocking a Ryzen 5 3600, but what about people looking to upgrade from something much older, or are maybe edifice an entirely new PC, what CPU should you lot exist looking at right now?

Arguably, right now is not a great fourth dimension to upgrade or build a new PC. The Ryzen five 3600 is dorsum to around $200 at near retailers even though it sold closer to $160 final yr. We're seeing the same scenario with all Zen 2 processors. For case, the 3700X was listed for $260 back in July and now information technology's $320.

As we mentioned earlier, the Core i5-10400F is a pretty great deal at the moment, however. Information technology's selling for around $166 which is almost 20% less than the R5 3600. Meanwhile, you're looking at ~$300 for the 5600X which is an ugly cost for that part, hell you lot can snap upward a 10600K for $270.

Frankly, if we were forced into buying a great value gaming CPU right now, we'd go Intel with the 10400F. While those of you who managed to snap up a Ryzen 5 3600 when they were selling well below the MSRP, you've done well, very well indeed.

Shopping Shortcuts:
  • AMD Radeon RX 6800 on Amazon
  • Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 on Amazon
  • Intel Cadre i5-10400 on Amazon
  • AMD Ryzen 5 3600 on Amazon
  • Intel Cadre i5-10600K on Amazon
  • Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 on Amazon
  • AMD Ryzen 9 5900X on Amazon
  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600X on Amazon