AMD Ryzen 5 3500X vs Intel Core i5-655K

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen 5 3500X and Intel Core i5-655K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Peripherals, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score.

AMD Ryzen 5 3500X

Intel Core i5-655K

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X

CPU is newer: launch date 9 year(s) 6 month(s) later
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
2 more threads: 6 vs 4
Around 18% higher clock speed: 4.1 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 7 nm vs 32 nm
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
6x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
8x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
7.8x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 16.38 GB
Around 12% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Around 73% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2503 vs 1446
6.5x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 13165 vs 2017
Around 9% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 5292 vs 4869

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	Nov 2019 vs May 2010
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Number of threads	6 vs 4
Maximum frequency	4.1 GHz vs 3.46 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm vs 32 nm
L1 cache	384 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	32 MB vs 4096 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 16.38 GB
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt vs 73 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2503 vs 1446
PassMark - CPU mark	13165 vs 2017
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	5292 vs 4869

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i5-655K

Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
2.1x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 2510 vs 1175

Specifications (specs)
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Benchmarks
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	2510 vs 1175

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 5 3500X
CPU 2: Intel Core i5-655K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2503

1446

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

13165

2017

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1175

2510

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

5292

4869

Name	AMD Ryzen 5 3500X	Intel Core i5-655K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2503	1446
PassMark - CPU mark	13165	2017
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1175	2510
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	5292	4869
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3820

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen 5 3500X	Intel Core i5-655K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen 2	Clarkdale
Launch date	Nov 2019	May 2010
Launch price (MSRP)	$170
Place in performance rating	1245	1224
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Price now		$59.99
Processor Number		i5-655K
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)		16.69
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.6 GHz	3.20 GHz
Front-side bus (FSB)	100 MHz
L1 cache	384 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	32 MB	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	32 nm
Maximum frequency	4.1 GHz	3.46 GHz
Number of cores	6	2
Number of threads	6	4
Bus Speed		2.5 GT/s DMI
Die size		81 mm2
Maximum core temperature		72.6°C
Transistor count		382 million
Unlocked
VID voltage range		0.6500V-1.4000V
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory size	128 GB	16.38 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-3200	DDR3 1066/1333
Maximum memory bandwidth		21 GB/s
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM4	FCLGA1156
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	73 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Advanced Technologies
Fused Multiply-Add 3 (FMA3)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Physical Address Extensions (PAE)		36-bit
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Graphics base frequency		733 MHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Processor graphics		Intel HD Graphics
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported		2
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes		16
PCI Express revision		2.0
PCIe configurations		1x16, 2x8
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)