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AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF: Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF l3 cache compared

L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Ryzen 5 1600X 16 MB against Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF 9 MB, a 44% lead for AMD Ryzen 5 1600X. Add l2 cache to that, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus 1.5 MB on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF, and the pattern holds. Pcie lanes runs the same way, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus 16 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF, another win for AMD Ryzen 5 1600X. There is a split on release year as well, 2017 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus 2019 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF.

Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 5 1600X or Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF?

Buy the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X for buyers specifically wanting genuine first-generation Zen 6-core capability. Avoid it for buyers prioritizing per-core performance, later Zen generations offer meaningfully better single-threaded results. Take the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF for enthusiast gaming desktop builds with a discrete GPU already planned wanting unlocked 6-core performance at a lower price. It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting a fallback integrated GPU, the standard i5-9600K includes UHD 630.

What AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF have in common

Where they agree, they agree completely, total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, tdp and integrated graphics included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 13 further specifications as well.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600X vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF price

Price will not decide this: $249 against $262 at the last check.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF differ on total threads?

Yes. Total Threads reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X versus 6 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF.

Is the Socket Status the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF?

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 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Ryzen 5
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    Core i5
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    1600X
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    9600KF
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Summit Ridge
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    Coffee Lake
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    2017
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    2019
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    95 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    95 W
  • iGPU

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    None
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    None
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Zen, Ryzen 1000 Series
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    Coffee Lake
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    AM4
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    FCLGA1151
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    End of Life
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    End of Life
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    14 nm
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    14 nm
  • Total Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    6
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    6
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    6
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    6
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    0
  • Total Threads

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    12Best
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    6
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Yes
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    No
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    3.6 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    3.7 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    4 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    4.6 GHz
  • L2 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    3 MBBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    1.5 MB-50%
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    16 MBBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    9 MB-44%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    95 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    95 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    95 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    95 W
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    DDR4-2666
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    DDR4-2666
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    2666 MT/s
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    2666 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    2
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    2
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    No
  • Copilot Plus Certified

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    No
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    3.0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    20
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    16-20%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    $249
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    $262
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    Retail
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    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 9600KF if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAMD Ryzen 5 1600XIntel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9600KF
    Consumercarts listing

    $249.00

    View on Consumercarts listing

    $262.00

    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.

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