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AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600: Comparison

What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600?

The gap that matters here is l3 cache: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 16 MB against Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600 12 MB, which puts AMD Ryzen 5 1600 25% ahead. L2 cache runs the same way, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 1.5 MB on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600, another win for AMD Ryzen 5 1600. Add pcie lanes to that, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 16 on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600, and the pattern holds. Product line is not the same on both, Ryzen 5 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus Core i5 on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600: which one fits your build

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 suits buyers specifically wanting genuine first-generation Zen 6-core capability. It is the wrong buy for buyers prioritizing per-core performance, later Zen generations, including the re-released 1600AF, offer meaningfully better single-threaded results. it is the wrong buy for enthusiasts wanting to overclock, the unlocked i5-10600K offers that flexibility. The same goes for mainstream desktop builders wanting near-i5-10600K performance without paying for overclocking headroom.

Where the two are identical

Where they agree, they agree completely, performance cores, efficiency cores, tdp, form factor and market segment included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 5 further specifications as well.

Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600?

They cost within a few percent of each other, $213 versus $219 when we last looked.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600 differ on p-core boost clock?

Yes. P-Core Boost Clock reads 3.6 GHz on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 4.8 GHz on the Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600.

Is the SMT Enabled the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600?

It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    AMD
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Ryzen 5
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Core i5
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Desktop
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    1600
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    10600
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Summit Ridge
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Comet Lake
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    2017
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    2020
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    65 W
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    65 W
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Desktop
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Zen, Ryzen 1000 Series
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Comet Lake
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    AM4
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    FCLGA1200
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    End of Life
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Mature
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    14 nm
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    14 nm
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    6
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    6
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    0
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    0
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Yes
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Yes
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3.2 GHz
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    3.3 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3.6 GHz
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    4.8 GHz
  • L2 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3 MBBest
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    1.5 MB-50%
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    16 MBBest
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    12 MB-25%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    65 W
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    65 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    65 W
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    172W
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    DDR4-2666
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    DDR4-2933
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    2666 MT/sBest
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    4 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    2
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    2
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    No
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    No
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Yes
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3.0
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    PCIe 3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    20
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    16-20%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    $219
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    $213
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Retail
    Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Retail

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 1600 if you want the higher L2 cache (3 MB vs 1.5 MB), the higher L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB) and the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).

    Choose 10600 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAMD Ryzen 5 1600Intel 10th Gen Intel Core i5 10600
    Consumercarts listing

    $219.00

    View on Consumercarts listing
    Amazon

    $213.00

    View on Amazon
    NeweggView on Newegg

    Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

    More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)