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AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500: Comparison

AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500 l3 cache compared

On l3 cache the spread is 44%, AMD Ryzen 5 2600 16 MB against Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500 9 MB, so AMD Ryzen 5 2600 takes it. L2 cache runs the same way, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 1.5 MB on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500, another win for AMD Ryzen 5 2600. Pcie lanes runs the same way, 20 on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 versus 16 on the Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500, another win for AMD Ryzen 5 2600. 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 9500.

AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500: 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 built for enthusiasts wanting to overclock, the unlocked i5-9600K offers that flexibility. The same goes for mainstream desktop builders wanting a modest clock speed step up over the entry-level i5-9400.

Where the two are identical

Everything else lines up. Total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, tdp and socket status read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 6 further specifications as well.

Which is cheaper, AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500?

They cost within a few percent of each other, $192 versus $199 when we last looked.

Frequently asked questions

Do the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500 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 9500.

Is the Form Factor the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500?

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

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    AMD
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Intel
  • Product Line

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Ryzen 5
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Core i5
  • Form Factor

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Desktop
  • Model Number

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2600
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    9500
  • Codename

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Pinnacle Ridge
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Coffee Lake
  • Release Year

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2018
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    2019
  • TDP

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    65 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    65 W
  • iGPU

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    None
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Market Segment

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Desktop
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Desktop
  • Microarchitecture

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Zen+, Ryzen 2000 Series
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Coffee Lake
  • Socket

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    AM4
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    FCLGA1151
  • Socket Status

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    End of Life
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    End of Life
  • Process Node

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    12 nm
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    14 nm
  • Total Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    6
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    6
  • Performance Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    6
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    6
  • Efficiency Cores

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    0
  • Total Threads

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    12Best
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    6
  • SMT Enabled

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Yes
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    No
  • P-Core Base Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.4 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    3.0 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.9 GHz
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    4.4 GHz
  • Unlocked Multiplier

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Yes
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    No
  • L2 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3 MBBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    1.5 MB-50%
  • L3 Cache

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    16 MBBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    9 MB-44%
  • Base Power

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    65 W
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    65 W
  • Bundled Cooler

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    AMD Wraith Stealth
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Intel Laminar RM1
  • Memory Type

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    DDR4
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    DDR4-2666
  • Max Memory Speed

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2933 MT/sBest
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    2666 MT/s
  • Memory Channels

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    2
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    2
  • Max Memory Capacity

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    64 GB
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    128 GBBest
  • ECC Support

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    No
  • Integrated Graphics

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Yes
  • Copilot Plus Certified

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    No
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    No
  • PCIe Generation

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    3.0
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    PCIe 3.0
  • PCIe Lanes

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    20
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    16-20%
  • Launch MSRP

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    $199
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    $192
  • Retail Availability

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600
    Retail
    Intel 9th Gen Intel Core i5 9500
    Discontinued

    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 9500 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 9500
    Consumercarts listing

    $199.00

    View on Consumercarts listing

    $192.00

    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.

    More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)