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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
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel 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.




