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AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400: Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400: the l3 cache difference

Start with l3 cache, because it is the widest measured gap between them: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 16 MB against Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400 9 MB, 44% in favour of AMD Ryzen 5 2600. Add l2 cache to that, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 1.5 MB on the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400, and the pattern holds. Pcie lanes runs the same way, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 16 on the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400, another win for AMD Ryzen 5 2600.

Who each one is for

Take the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 for budget-conscious gaming and productivity desktop builds wanting genuine 6-core Zen+ performance with a bundled cooler. It is not the one for buyers wanting maximum clock speed at this core count, the 2600X offers a modest step up. Buy the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400 for budget-conscious gaming desktop builds wanting genuine 6-core performance without overclocking, though it is not the pick for enthusiasts wanting to overclock, the unlocked i5-8600K offers that flexibility.

What AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400 have in common

The common ground is wider than the gap: total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, tdp and socket status are identical here. They match on 8 further specifications as well.

AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400 price

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 asks 9% more, $199 against $182 for the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400 differ on total threads?

Yes. Total Threads reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 6 on the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400.

Is the Form Factor the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400?

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

Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400?

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 asks 9% more, $199 against $182 for the Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    AMD
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Ryzen 5
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Core i5
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Desktop
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2600
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    8400
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Pinnacle Ridge
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Coffee Lake
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2018
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    2017
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    65 W
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    65 W
  • iGPU

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    None
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Desktop
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Zen+, Ryzen 2000 Series
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Coffee Lake
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    AM4
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    FCLGA1151
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    End of Life
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    End of Life
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    12 nm
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    14 nm
  • Total Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    6
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    6
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    6
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    6
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    0
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    0
  • Total Threads

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    12Best
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    6
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Yes
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    No
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.4 GHz
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    2.8 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.9 GHz
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    4.0 GHz
  • L2 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3 MBBest
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    1.5 MB-50%
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    16 MBBest
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    9 MB-44%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    65 W
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    65 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    88 W
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    65 W
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    DDR4
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    DDR4-2666
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2933 MT/sBest
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    2666 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    2
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Yes
  • Copilot Plus Certified

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    No
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.0
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    20
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    16-20%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    $199
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    $182
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Retail
    Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Retail

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 2600 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 8400 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAMD Ryzen 5 2600Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i5 8400
    Consumercarts listing

    $199.00

    View on Consumercarts listing

    $182.00

    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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