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AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K: Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K l3 cache compared

L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Ryzen 5 1600X 16 MB against Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K 9 MB, a 44% lead for AMD Ryzen 5 1600X. L2 cache runs the same way, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus 1.5 MB on the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K, another win for AMD Ryzen 5 1600X. Pcie lanes runs the same way, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus 16 on the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K, another win for AMD Ryzen 5 1600X. They differ on igpu too, None on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus Intel UHD Graphics 630 on the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K.

Who each one is for

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X is the one to take for buyers specifically wanting genuine first-generation Zen 6-core capability. It is not the one for buyers prioritizing per-core performance, later Zen generations offer meaningfully better single-threaded results. Take the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K for enthusiast gaming desktop builds wanting an unlocked 6-core chip without paying for hyperthreading. Avoid it for buyers needing hyperthreading for lightly multi-threaded work, the i7-8700K offers that alongside similar clocks.

What AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K have in common

The common ground is wider than the gap: total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, p-core base clock and tdp are identical here. They match on 13 further specifications as well.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K price

Price will not decide this: $249 against $257 at the last check.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K differ on total threads?

Yes. Total Threads reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus 6 on the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K.

Is the Socket Status the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K?

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

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    AMD
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Ryzen 5
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Core i5
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Desktop
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    1600X
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    8600K
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Summit Ridge
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Coffee Lake
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    2017
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    2017
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    95 W
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    95 W
  • iGPU

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    None
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Desktop
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Zen, Ryzen 1000 Series
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Coffee Lake, 8th Gen Intel Core
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    AM4
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    FCLGA1151
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    End of Life
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    End of Life
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    14 nm
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    14 nm
  • Total Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    6
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    6
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    6
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    6
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    0
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    0
  • Total Threads

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    12Best
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    6
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Yes
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    No
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    3.6 GHz
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    3.6 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    4 GHz
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    4.3 GHz
  • L2 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    3 MBBest
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    1.5 MB-50%
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    16 MBBest
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    9 MB-44%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    95 W
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    95 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    95 W
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    95 W
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    DDR4-2666
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    DDR4-2666
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    2666 MT/s
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    2666 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    2
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    2
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    No
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    No
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Yes
  • Copilot Plus Certified

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    No
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    No
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    3.0
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    20
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    16-20%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    $249
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    $257
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Retail
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Retail

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 1600X if you want the higher L2 cache (3 MB vs 1.5 MB), the higher L3 cache (16 MB vs 9 MB) and the higher memory channels (2 vs 2).

    Choose 8600K if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAMD Ryzen 5 1600XIntel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8600K
    Consumercarts listing

    $249.00

    View on Consumercarts listing

    $257.00

    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.