Significant contrast exists between the R5 1600AF and R5 3600 models.
Significant contrast exists between the R5 1600AF and R5 3600 models.
Zen 2 marked a significant leap forward, turning me into an enthusiast when it launched. The reviews clearly show why this gap exists. It propelled AMD from being just another off-brand Intel player to a serious competitor in its own right. Even when ignoring architecture differences, we’re looking at a jump from 7nm to 12nm. Why are you curious?
The question is about why the R5 3600 draws more power when idle, which seems less efficient.
The performance boost? You're lucky you didn't get Comet Lake, it's even hotter. As we near the boundaries of what's achievable with smaller dies, the only way to achieve better performance is by increasing the TDP. Also, you mentioned running the 3600 in ITX, which is another consideration.
It might look odd, but there’s nothing to be concerned about. You could simply have a strong bin 1600AF and a weaker one 3600.