At this time, we’re revisiting the gaming efficiency of two funds CPUs from years previous: the Ryzen 5 3600 and Core i5-9600K. We’ll not solely examine how they carry out in as we speak’s video games but in addition benchmark the flagship improve choices to find out which platform has aged one of the best.
4 years in the past, once we benchmarked each merchandise, the Core i5-9600K was on common 4% quicker in gaming. Nevertheless, it usually lagged in productiveness duties because it featured solely 6 cores and 6 threads. In distinction, the Ryzen 5 3600 boasts 6 cores and 12 threads, making it extra succesful. We anticipate this to considerably profit its efficiency in fashionable video games.
For testing, we’re utilizing the GeForce RTX 4090 in an effort to attenuate GPU bottlenecks. Nevertheless, it is price noting that by as we speak’s requirements, each the 3600 and 9600K are comparatively sluggish, which means related outcomes might be achieved with a inexpensive GPU, such because the Radeon RX 6800, particularly if the standard settings are barely lowered.
Each CPUs have been paired with 32GB of dual-rank DDR4-3600 CL14 reminiscence, we have put in the newest BIOS revisions and are working Home windows 11. Let’s get into it…
Benchmarks
First up, we now have Murderer’s Creed Mirage, the place the Core i5-9600K carried out fairly poorly with noticeably weak 1% lows. The sport was nonetheless playable, regardless of being removed from optimum, and the expertise utilizing the Ryzen 5 3600 was considerably higher, with 1% lows of round 80 fps and a median body price of 100 fps. Though the 3600 was simply 3% quicker by way of common body price, it was 33% quicker in 1% lows, even at 4K decision.
Subsequent up, we now have Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Right here, the 9600K, 3600, and even 3700X all delivered very related efficiency. Curiously, whereas 9600K house owners can improve to the 9900K for a 32% efficiency enhance, 3600 house owners can advance to the 5800X3D, leading to a considerable 71% efficiency enhance.
In Horizon Zero Daybreak, the 9600K outperforms the 3600, delivering 9% higher common efficiency, although the 1% lows are a lot the identical. The Core i5 processor performs properly on this older title.
Transferring on to Far Cry 6, we discover the 3600 is 11% quicker than the 9600K on common, with 14% stronger 1% lows. Nonetheless, the Core i5 processor managed to ship extremely playable efficiency on this title. Upgrading to the 9900K provides Intel customers a 17% efficiency enhance, whereas transferring from the 3600 to the 5800X3D leads to a major 59% uplift.
The 9600K and 3600 have been neck and neck in F1 23, just about delivering equivalent efficiency. The same efficiency between the 3600 and 3700X, each that includes the identical 32MB L3 cache, signifies that cache measurement is extra essential right here than core depend when evaluating 6 to eight cores. The 9900K, with nearly 80% extra L3 cache than the 9600K, explains the 32% efficiency improve at 1080p.
In Assetto Corsa Competizione, the 9600K was 11% quicker than the 3600 and 18% quicker in 1% lows, marking a powerful consequence for the Core i5. ACC, being a single-threaded recreation, showcases the strengths of the 9600K.
Neither the 9600K nor the 3600 are notably spectacular in Watch Canine: Legion, a core-heavy, CPU-demanding recreation. Nevertheless, the Ryzen 5 processor was 12% quicker, averaging 65 fps at 1080p. Upgrading to the 9900K provides 9600K house owners a major 70% uplift, whereas 3600 house owners choosing the 5800X3D can anticipate an astounding 140% efficiency enchancment.
In A Plague Story: Requiem, the 9600K and 3600 have been once more intently matched. The 3600’s 1% lows have been worse than these of the 3700X, indicating the advantage of further cores, however general, each processors delivered strong efficiency.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was difficult on the 9600K, with longer load occasions and noticeable body drops in comparison with the 3600. Regardless of the 9600K having 13% greater common body charges, the general expertise was inferior, with the 3600 providing 25% higher 1% lows.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the 9600K additionally suffered from weaker 1% low efficiency. Though its common body price matched the 3600, the Ryzen 5 was 18% quicker in 1% lows. Right here once more, upgrading from the 9600K to the 9900K resulted in an 18% efficiency improve, in comparison with the 84% uplift seen with the 5800X3D for 3600 customers.
In Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare II, the 9600K was considerably slower than the 3600, averaging simply 140 fps. This made the Ryzen 5 processor 24% quicker on common and 36% quicker in 1% lows, marking a transparent win for AMD.
Transferring on to Resident Evil 4, we discover that the 3600, 3700X, and 9600K are all very evenly matched, delivering round 80 fps on common. We additionally see that the 9900K provides simply an 18% efficiency enchancment over the 9600K, which is not a major improve contemplating the prices concerned. Nevertheless, the 5800X3D is astonishingly 81% quicker than the 3600, presenting a considerable improve choice on the identical appropriate socket.
Regardless of its age, Shadow of the Tomb Raider stays a core-heavy, CPU-demanding title. For testing, we keep away from utilizing the built-in benchmark because it would not precisely signify the CPU load seen in-game. As a substitute, we check within the village part, as proven within the prime left nook of the graph.
Right here, the 3600 is 9% quicker than the 9600K, a comparatively minor efficiency benefit. Nevertheless, the potential upgrades provide considerably completely different outcomes. The 9900K is 35% quicker than the 9600K, a decent enchancment, however it pales compared to the 109% enhance the 5800X3D gives over the 3600.
The Core i5 performs properly in The Callisto Protocol, which is not a very CPU-demanding title. It was 8% quicker than the 3600 and even outperformed the 3700X. On this case, the 9600K was so environment friendly that upgrading to the 9900K solely yields a ten% efficiency improve. In the meantime, the 5800X3D was 54% quicker than the Core i5.
The Ryzen 5 3600 considerably outperforms the 9600K in Warhammer III, delivering as much as 15% extra efficiency. The 9900K is barely 27% quicker than the 9600K, whereas the 5800X3D outpaces the 3600 by 63%.
Hogwarts Legacy would not work notably properly with any of those older processors, with efficiency hovering round 40 fps for the 3600, 3700X, and 9600K. Efficiency is analogous general, however as soon as once more, the in-socket improve benefit goes to AMD, because the 9900K tops out at 46 fps, whereas the 5800X3D reaches 60 fps.
In Starfield, the older CPUs do not carry out exceptionally properly, though it is price noting that the 5800X3D is not notably efficient on this title both. This information was collected earlier than the current replace that improves efficiency. Right here, the 9600K and 3600 have been tied, every attaining 50 fps.
The Core i5-9600K struggles considerably with The Final of Us Half I, notably with poor 1% low efficiency, leading to a 54% efficiency benefit for the 3600 and a 15% improve in common body price. The frequent stuttering makes the 9600K unsuitable for this title.
In Halo Infinite, the 9600K didn’t encounter any performance-related points, apart from being slower than the 3600. The Ryzen 5 half supplied an 8% enhance to the common body price.
The 9600K was considerably unstable in Hitman 3, although the general efficiency was first rate with typically easy gameplay. The 3600 was 12% quicker on common, and the 5800X3D provided a extra important improve than the 9900K.
Lastly, we now have Spider-Man Remastered, one other recreation the place the Ryzen 5 3600 outperforms the 9600K, this time by 12%. The improve paths additionally favor AMD, because the 9900K was 48% quicker than the 9600K, a notable enchancment. Nevertheless, the 5800X3D surpassed the 3600 by 73%.
Efficiency Abstract
We have reviewed the 21 video games examined, and it seems that the Ryzen 5 3600 is now outperforming the Core i5-9600K. To substantiate this, let’s look at the 21-game common, beginning with the 1080p information.
Certainly, the Ryzen 5 3600 has shifted from being 4% slower upon launch to being 4% quicker now. Nevertheless, these figures do not absolutely seize the scenario. At its launch, the 3600 may need been barely slower on common, however it constantly delivered extremely playable body charges in all video games with out stuttering or body pacing points.
In distinction, the 9600K as we speak usually gives a subpar expertise, marred by body stutters and sluggish loading occasions. We have been stunned by the 9600K’s sluggishness in loading video games and ranges, an issue we did not encounter with the Ryzen 5 3600. Subsequently, the general expertise was considerably higher with the Ryzen processor.
Then, there’s the improve path, which is what initiated this collection. Those that invested within the LGA 1151 platform with the 9600K have restricted choices in the event that they want to maintain their motherboard. The 9900K, whereas providing a median of 27% extra efficiency, is an costly CPU. In the meantime, for the same funding, the 5800X3D supplied a median efficiency improve of just about 70% over the 3600, marking a exceptional improve on the identical socket.
5 Years Later
So there you’ve gotten it, years later, the Ryzen 5 3600 has reigned supreme, providing one of the best efficiency coupled with one of the best improve path. These extra reasonably priced, lower-end CPUs display the distinctive high quality of the AM4 era of Ryzen processors. It is clear now in 2023 that AM4 outperformed LGA 1151, and components just like the R5 3600 have been a greater purchase than the 9600K. This was obvious to us 4 years in the past, once we stated this:
This has been Intel’s downside ever since AMD launched the AM4 platform full with a slew of Ryzen processors. Not solely have they supported 2, 4, 6, 8 and now 12-core processors, all on the identical socket, however they’ve managed to take action throughout three CPU generations. This makes recommending Intel’s eighth and ninth era LGA1151 platform tough in 2019. In need of constructing a high-end Core i7-9700K or i9-9900K rig, we won’t consider a state of affairs the place it makes full sense.
The 9400F is an ideal instance of this limitation. Future improve choices are slim, and in a yr or two, customers will seemingly want greater than 6 threads. In a few years, second-hand pricing for 8700K, 9700K, and 9900K processors will probably be horrible, as everybody invested within the platform will probably be searching for a fast and straightforward improve.
With very restricted improve choices and no future assist for upcoming generations, recommending the present Intel LGA1151 platform may be very tough.
The worth of the Ryzen 5 vary was exceptional, with components just like the 3600 having bought for as little as $95. In distinction, the 9600K by no means dropped beneath $200, although the 9600KF briefly reached ~$175. Nevertheless, at the moment, the 3600 was promoting for simply $95, making it the superior selection and dominating our greatest worth all-round choose for years.
With simply 6 cores and 6 threads, together with a comparatively small 9 MB L3 cache, the 9600K aged fairly poorly. After 5 years, it is seemingly time for an improve, and meaning constructing what will probably be an nearly solely new PC. The 9900K, averaging solely 27% quicker, just isn’t a enough improve and can be not cost-effective.
The 5800X3D provides roughly 40% extra efficiency than the 9900K, making it a considerably higher improve and permitting customers to increase the lifetime of their AM4 {hardware}.
This highlights why platform longevity is essential, and it is one thing all PC customers ought to advocate for with AMD, whereas additionally urging Intel to supply higher improve paths, notably for lower-end {hardware} the place the dearth of an precise improve path hurts essentially the most.
The dearth of platform dedication is probably going impacting Intel’s retail CPU gross sales, a actuality they do not appear to have woken as much as. If AMD can replicate AM4’s success with AM5, it is going to be difficult to suggest Intel CPUs within the coming years. We hope Intel acknowledges this and that AMD continues its success with AM5. It is unsure which final result is extra seemingly.
