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AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K: Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K: the l3 cache difference

L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 16 MB against Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K 6 MB, a 63% lead for AMD Ryzen 5 1600. AMD Ryzen 5 1600 also leads on l2 cache, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 1 MB on the Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K. AMD Ryzen 5 1600 also leads on pcie lanes, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 16 on the Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K.

Who each one is for

Buy the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 for 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. Take the Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K for buyers of this era wanting genuine overclocking flexibility on a widely adopted enthusiast gaming chip. It is not the one for buyers wanting the latest architecture, 8th Gen and newer chips offer meaningfully more cores and better IPC.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K price

The Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K asks 11% more, $242 against $219 for the AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

What AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K have in common

Where they agree, they agree completely, efficiency cores, socket status, form factor, market segment and memory channels included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 2 further specifications as well.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K differ on performance cores?

Yes. Performance Cores reads 6 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 4 on the Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K.

Is the ECC Support the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K?

It is. Both are listed at No, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K?

The Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K asks 11% more, $242 against $219 for the AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    AMD
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Ryzen 5
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Core i5
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Desktop
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    1600
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    6600K
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Summit Ridge
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Skylake
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    2017
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    2015
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    65 W
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    91 W
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Desktop
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Zen, Ryzen 1000 Series
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Skylake, 6th Gen Intel Core
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    AM4
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    FCLGA1151
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    End of Life
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    End of Life
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    14 nm
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    14 nm
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    6Best
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    4
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    0
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    0
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Yes
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    No
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3.2 GHz
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    3.5 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3.6 GHz
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    3.9 GHz
  • L2 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3 MBBest
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    1 MB-67%
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    16 MBBest
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    6 MB-62%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    65 W
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    91 W
  • Bundled Cooler

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    AMD Wraith Spire
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    None
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    DDR4-2666
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    DDR4
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    2666 MT/sBest
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    2133 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    2
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    2
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    No
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    No
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Yes
  • Copilot Plus Certified

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    No
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    No
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    3.0
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    PCIe 3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    20
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    16-20%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    $219
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    $242
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600
    Retail
    Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Discontinued

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 1600 if you want the higher L2 cache (3 MB vs 1 MB), the higher L3 cache (16 MB vs 6 MB) and the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).

    Choose 6600K if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAMD Ryzen 5 1600Intel 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
    Consumercarts listing

    $219.00

    View on Consumercarts listing

    $242.00

    View on Consumercarts listing

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