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AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400: Comparison

What is the difference between AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400?

L3 cache is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Ryzen 5 2600 16 MB against Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400 9 MB, a 44% lead for AMD Ryzen 5 2600. Add pcie lanes to that, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 16 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400, and the pattern holds. They differ on product line too, Ryzen 5 on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus Core i5 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400. They differ on release year too, 2018 on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 2019 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400.

AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400: which one fits your build

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. it is not the pick for enthusiasts wanting to overclock, the unlocked i5-9600K offers that flexibility. It is equally the pick for mainstream desktop builders wanting genuine 6-core performance with a fallback integrated GPU.

What AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400 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 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400 price

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 asks 9% more, $199 against $182 for the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400 differ on total threads?

Yes. Total Threads reads 12 on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 6 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400.

Is the Form Factor the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400?

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 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400?

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 asks 9% more, $199 against $182 for the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    AMD
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Ryzen 5
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Core i5
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2600
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    9400
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Pinnacle Ridge
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Coffee Lake
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2018
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    2019
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    65 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    65 W
  • iGPU

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    None
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Zen+, Ryzen 2000 Series
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Coffee Lake
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    AM4
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    FCLGA1151
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    End of Life
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    End of Life
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    12 nm
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    14 nm
  • Total Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    6
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    6
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    6
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    6
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    0
  • Total Threads

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    12Best
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    6
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Yes
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    No
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.4 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    2.9 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.9 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    4.1 GHz
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    16 MBBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    9 MB-44%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    65 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    65 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    88 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    65 W
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    DDR4
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    DDR4-2666
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2933 MT/sBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    2666 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    2
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Yes
  • Copilot Plus Certified

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    No
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    20
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    16-20%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    $199
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    $182
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Retail
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    Retail

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 2600 if you want the higher L3 cache (16 MB vs 9 MB), the higher memory channels (2 vs 2) and the higher PCIe lanes (20 vs 16).

    Choose 9400 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerAMD Ryzen 5 2600Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9400
    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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