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AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K: Comparison
What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K?
L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 16 MB against Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K 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 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K. Add pcie lanes to that, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 16 on the Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K, and the pattern holds.
Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K?
The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 suits buyers specifically wanting genuine first-generation Zen 6-core capability. It is not the one for buyers prioritizing per-core performance, later Zen generations, including the re-released 1600AF, offer meaningfully better single-threaded results. Take the Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K for enthusiast gaming desktop builds from this era wanting genuine overclocking flexibility on a 4-core chip. Avoid it for buyers wanting the latest architecture, 8th Gen and newer chips offer meaningfully more cores and better IPC.
AMD Ryzen 5 1600 vs Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K price
At the last price check the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 was $219 and the Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K $242, a 11% premium.
What AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K have in common
Everything else lines up. Efficiency cores, socket status, form factor, release year and market segment read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 3 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K differ on performance cores?
Yes. Performance Cores reads 6 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 versus 4 on the Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K.
Is the Memory Channels the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- AMD
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- Intel
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Ryzen 5
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- Core i5
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Desktop
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 1600
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 7600K
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Summit Ridge
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- Kaby Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 2017
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 2017
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 65 W
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 91 W
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Desktop
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Zen, Ryzen 1000 Series
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- Kaby Lake, 7th Gen Intel Core
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- AM4
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- FCLGA1151
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- End of Life
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- End of Life
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 14 nm
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 14 nm
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 6Best
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 4
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 0
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 0
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Yes
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 3.2 GHz
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 3.8 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 3.6 GHz
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 4.2 GHz
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 3 MBBest
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 1 MB-67%
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 16 MBBest
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 6 MB-62%
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 65 W
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 91 W
Bundled Cooler
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- AMD Wraith Spire
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- None
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- DDR4-2666
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- DDR4
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 2666 MT/sBest
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 2400 MT/s
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 2
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 2
ECC Support
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- No
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- No
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- No
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- Yes
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- No
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 3.0
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- PCIe 3.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- 20
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 16-20%
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- $219
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- $242
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- Retail
- Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K
- 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 7600K if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | Intel 7th Gen Intel Core i5 7600K |
|---|---|---|
| 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.