SOVLED! AMD Ryzen 5 5600X vs Ryzen 7 5800X: Which one should you buy?

Both Ryzen 5 5600X and Ryzen 7 5800X are gaming-focused CPUs from AMD. 5800X is a much more upgraded and powerful CPU for sure. But, the 5600X has its own advantages for its specific set of users.

The Ryzen 5 5600X come with 6 cores and 12 threads while the 5800X has 8 cores and 16 threads. 5600X has a base/boost clock of 3.7/4.6 GHz and 5800X has 3.8/4.7 GHz.

The 5800X has slightly higher clock speeds, which can give it a slight performance advantage in most applications.

This means that the 5800X is better suited for tasks that require a high number of threads and cores, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and other resource-intensive tasks.

Both processors use AMD’s Zen 3 architecture and are built on a 7nm process, which means that they are both very efficient and have excellent performance-per-watt ratios. Both processors also support DDR4 memory and have a total of 32MB of L3 cache.

You know which one is good if you want more performance. Yes, the 5800X is much more powerful and capable as compared to the 5600X. But, let me tell you, there are reasons to choose 5600X as well. I am going to reveal everything below in this article. So, keep reading until the end.

Theoretical Specifications (Comparison)

First of all, let’s compare the key specifications which you get to see with both of these CPUs. With this table itself, you will be able to get a good overview of what you can expect from them. So, let’s compare

SpecificationAMD Ryzen 5 5600XAMD Ryzen 7 5800X
CPU Generation4th Generation Ryzen4th Generation Ryzen
Cores/Threads6/128/16
Max Boost Clock4.6 GHz4.7 GHz
Base Clock3.7 GHz3.8 GHz
L2 Cache3 MB4 MB
L3 Cache32 MB32 MB
OverclockingYesYes
PCIe VersionPCIe 4.0PCIe 4.0
Memory SupportDDR4 (3200)DDR4 (3200)
Boxed Cooling SolutionIncluded (Wraith Stealth)No
Integrated Graphics CardNoNo
Maximum Temperature (Tjmax)95°C90°C

5800X is definitely a much more powerful CPU and has everything a little over the 5600X. However, the performance difference will not be of much use to most users. 2 more physical cores and 4 threads will not make that much difference. But, still, we will have to look at the numbers and the 5800X is winning this game. One thing that amazes me here is that the 5800X doesn’t come with any boxed cooling solution even after having a lesser maximum operating temperature range.

Benchmark Scores (Comparison)

Now, let’s compare the Passmark and Geekbench scores and see which CPU has the best offerings in both single-core and multi-core operations.

ParameterRyzen 5 5600XRyzen 7 5800X
CPU Mark Score (2.90/2.60GHz)22,00728,167
Single-Core Score (Geekbench)1,6141,670
Multi-Core Score (GeekBench)8,15310,334
Single-Thread Rating (PassMark)3,3583,450

As expected, 5800X is beating the 5600X in all the benchmark tests here. The overall and multi-core performance numbers are pretty noticeable. But, single-core performance scores aren’t very far from each other. So, when it comes to single-core CPU operations, both of the CPUs will be giving you almost similar results.

This is happening because the clock frequencies on which these CPUs are operating are almost the same. So, when it comes to multi-core performance, the 5800X is having an edge because of its higher number of cores and threads.

Cinebench Scores (Comparison)

Cinebench BenchmarkRyzen 5 5600XRyzen 7 5800X
Cinebench R23 (Single Core)1,5391,596
Cinebench R23 (Multi Core)11,20111,228
Cinebench R20 (Single Core)598629
Cinebench R20 (Multi Core)4,5696,046
Cinebench R15(Single Core)257268
Cinebench R15 (Multi Core)1,9632,607

Again, the single-core scores are not that much different but we can see that the 5800X is winning all over the tests.

Cache Difference

The main difference between the two processors in terms of cache is the size of their L2 cache, which is another type of memory that is used by the processor to store frequently used data and instructions. The 5600X has 3MB of L2 cache, while the 5800X has 4MB of L2 cache. This means that the 5800X has slightly more L2 cache, which can give it a slight performance advantage in some applications.

In practical terms, the difference in cache size between the 5600X and the 5800X is not significant and is unlikely to have a noticeable impact on the performance of most applications. Both processors have more than enough cache to support most workloads, and the performance difference between the two processors is more likely to be determined by other factors, such as the number of cores and threads, clock speeds, and the efficiency of the processor’s architecture.

Price Difference

Which one is good for gaming?

Definitely, a good single-core performance is still a good criterion to determine any CPU’s capability for gaming. But, because there are games that are making use of multiple cores as well, we can say that the Ryzen 7 5800X is a good pick between both for gaming.

For a better understanding, here is a YouTube video that will help you see how much difference you can expect when you play games with these CPUs.

You can see that there was a difference between FPS in all games and 5800X was again leading the game. Also, the CPU usage is higher when we see 5600X working with the same graphics card as 5800X. But, I didn’t find the 5600X lacking anywhere or causing any kind of bottleneck.

I would say that the 5600X has the same gaming capabilities as you get with the 5800X. A graphics card like 3080 Ti or 3090 can allow you to play 4K games pretty easily. So, there is no point in spending more money on 5800X if gaming is your priority. However, if you want to record or stream, it is better to have more cores, and then you should think about getting 5800X. Otherwise, 5600X is more than enough for any sort of gaming.

Both 5600X and 5800X come without an integrated GPU. So, it is mandatory to have a graphics card on your motherboard in order to play games or even get any display output.

Which one is good for productivity?

When it comes to using software, more cores are always better. So, again, I would say 5800X will be better if you are finding a suitable CPU for productivity between these both. Two more cores and 4 more threads may not mean very much for some people but for some, it can make a huge difference.

If you are building a PC for video editing, streaming, programming, 3D modeling, graphics designing, etc, you should think about having more cores on the CPU. It is just the opposite of what you have to look at when picking a CPU for gaming. A good single-core performance may not work here because these productivity software is going to demand much more processing room which you can only get with multiple cores.

So, again, if you are looking for a CPU that is good for productivity, 5800X is a good pick for you.

Chipset Support

Both these CPUs are coming from the 5000 Ryzen series. So, they will work with all the available Ryzen chipsets. However, with some chipsets, you will have to update the BIOS if the motherboard manufacturer has made it available to you.

ChipsetRyzen 5 5600XRyzen 7 5800X
X570SupportedSupported
B550SupportedSupported
A520SupportedSupported
X570SupportedSupported
B450SupportedSupported
X370Selective Beta BIOS update neededSelective Beta BIOS update needed
B350Selective Beta BIOS update neededSelective Beta BIOS update needed
A320Selective Beta BIOS update neededSelective Beta BIOS update needed

Final Verdict: Which one should you buy?

For gaming only, Ryzen 5 5600X is good instead of spending around 100 bucks more on 5800X. But, if you want to stream along with gaming, you should pick 5800X. For productivity tasks, obviously, the 5800X will give you better results. However, 5600X will also be able to work well in this case.

So, make sure to keep an eye on your budget. If you just want to play games, it is better to save money on your CPU and spend on a good graphics card. That is why I suggest 5600X. But, if you can afford 5800X, you should grab it for sure because, at the end of the day, it is much more powerful.

Let me know in the comments what you think about this comparison!