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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
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel 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.




