Compare Intel Core i5-11400 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 for performance and features.
Compare Intel Core i5-11400 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 for performance and features.
Hello there! Welcome to the forum. If you missed any of the introductory threads or need more details, no worries—I'm here to help. I’m considering swapping out my Phenom II x4 955 for a new build, and I’ve always preferred AMD for my projects.
To be clear, I don’t play games much, don’t push overclocks, and mainly use my PC for a type 2 hypervisor, running productivity tasks like Windows servers and test lab setups for enterprise R&D and training. I also browse the web, check social media, shop on eBay, and generally use it for everyday browsing.
My current 16GB system is getting old and struggles with the hypervisor workloads. The specs aren’t too demanding, but I want to get the most value out of my investment. I’ve owned this machine for about nine years since the 955’s release, so it’s still solid for a while longer.
Looking at options, Intel Core i5-11400 and AMD Ryzen 5 3600 are the top choices. However, there’s a lot of mixed feedback on the newer Intel 11th Gen CPU—most suggest skipping the older 14nm line until the next generation arrives. Comparing the two feels tricky: the i5-11400 seems to outperform the R5 3600 in benchmarks, yet the latter offers more L3 cache and a cooler design. The 3600 also has a newer 7nm process and better power metrics, but it lacks integrated graphics, which I’d need if I choose that path.
Since I don’t play games or do heavy GPU work, I’m not under pressure for high-end specs. That means I can skip the typical gaming benchmarks and trust more practical reviews. The R5 3600 seems like a safer bet, especially with my need for a faster processor and a GPU for future needs.
If I need to use an M.2 NVMe drive for OS and VM storage, and I want something capable, the 16 lanes might be a constraint—especially if I’m not familiar with that hardware. Plus, it would cost me a bit more for something older.
I’ve read a lot of opinions from gaming reviews, which aren’t always relevant to my use case. I’m leaning toward the R5 3600 now, but I’ll keep an eye on the market and updates. Thanks for the insights!
I'd strongly recommend any 11th gen i5, if you need integrated graphics 11th gen has the best so far from intel, and the prices on brand new 3600s are awful, motherboards are about the same prices across platforms and if you care about on paper specs 11th gen is intel's first implementation of AVX-512 instructions on consumer desktop, amd probably won't have that until zen 4. I don't know who is saying to wait until 12th gen, but that's not a very good idea, prices are very likely going to be higher due to newer architecture, the chip shortage, and it's supposed to use ddr5 and pcie gen 5, which I personally believe more now that ddr4 prices are starting to increase.
Currently, 3600 offers little value and doesn't match the performance of the previous 10400 model. Its worth has dropped significantly.