Intel Core i5-6600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 1600

Processor comparisons 04-02-2023

   If you have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-6600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 1600 and understand which is better for games or simple use for programming, rendering, streaming, video editing, machine learning. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like GeekBench 6, 5.2, UserBenchmark, RealBench, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, Handbrake, 7zip, Gears 5, Furmark, AIDA64, 3DMark, Blender, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, Prime95, Blender, WPrime.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Apex Legends
Valheim
Fallout 76
Cyberpunk 2077
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Fortnite
Watch Dogs Legion
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Last Man Standing
Rainbow Six Siege
Death Stranding
Overwatch
Valorant
Red Dead Redemption 2
DOOM: Eternal
Halo Infinite
Borderlands 3
Grand Theft Auto V

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-6600K.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-6600K

51%

Ryzen 5 1600

53%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 1600 is 3% better than Core i5-6600K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6600K

52%

Ryzen 5 1600

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Forza Horizon 4, Half-Life: Alyx, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, Control, Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Ghostrunner, League of Legends (LOL), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.9	93.8
Valorant	105.5	106.6
Cyberpunk 2077	59.1	59.7
Apex Legends	99.2	100.2
Call of Duty Warzone	79.1	79.9
Overwatch	85.5	86.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.8	73.6
DOOM Eternal	52.8	53.3
Warzone	82.3	83.1
Assassin's Creed	88.6	89.5
Valheim	87.6	88.5

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The tested computers not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-6600K

51%

Ryzen 5 1600

47%

To make a final resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-6600K is more energy efficient than the Ryzen 5 1600 since it has less power consumption: 91W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to run, and all the benefit of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	166	147
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	600	1094
Cinbench 20 Single-core	395	357
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1572	2501
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1041	900
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3965	6230

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Single-Core	2356	2063
Multi-Core	6286	12340

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Single-Core	1399	932
Multi-Core	4766	5690

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Announcement date	September 26, 2015	April 11, 2017
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Summit Ridge
Architecture	x86	Zen
Generation	6	2
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.6 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	3.2 MHz
Cores	4	6
Threads	4	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	2800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	91 W	65 W
Memory type	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR4
Max. Memory	64 Gb
Memory Frequency		2667
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache		576KB
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache	6 MB	16MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	Expansion Options	YD1600BBM6IAE YD1600BBAEBOX YD1600BBAEMPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-6600K is 8% better than Ryzen 5 1600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 5 1600 has 2 more core than Core i5-6600K. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-6600K is better: 12
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is better: 25
However, it should be understood that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-6600K and AMD Ryzen 5 1600 before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-6600K - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-6600K specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 1600 specs and review.