Intel Core i5-7600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X

Processor comparisons 05-02-2023

   Let's say you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice after reading the full tests Intel Core i5-7600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and decide which is better for games or simple use for streaming, rendering, machine learning, video editing, programming. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like 3DMark, UserBenchmark, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, 7zip, Blender, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Handbrake, Gears 5, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), WPrime, PassMark, AIDA64, MATLAB, PCMark 10, Dolphin Emulator, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, VeraCrypt, Prime95.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel Core i5-7600K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-7600K

52%

Ryzen 5 3600X

55%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 3600X is 5% better than Core i5-7600K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-7600K

52%

Ryzen 5 3600X

54%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor at the moment. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you 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 other games in which processors were compared: Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World, Half-Life: Alyx, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Ghostrunner, Battlefield V, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, Control, Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metro Exodus, Forza Horizon 4, NBA 2K20, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), League of Legends (LOL).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.1	96.0
Valorant	104.6	109.1
Cyberpunk 2077	58.6	61.1
Apex Legends	98.3	102.6
Call of Duty Warzone	78.5	81.9
Overwatch	84.7	88.4
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.2	75.3
DOOM Eternal	52.3	54.6
Warzone	81.6	85.1
Assassin's Creed	87.9	91.7
Valheim	86.8	90.6

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 computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-7600K

46%

Ryzen 5 3600X

47%

To make a finishing 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 Ryzen 5 3600X is more energy efficient than the Core i5-7600K as it consumes less power: 91W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to find out whether the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to work, 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 i5-7600K	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Cinbench 15 Single-core	179	204
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	717	1647
Cinbench 20 Single-core	433	501
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1589	3751
Cinbench 23 Single-core	929	1286
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3642	9588

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

	Intel Core i5-7600K	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Single-Core	2548	2651
Multi-Core	6912	18377

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

	Intel Core i5-7600K	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Single-Core	1261	1341
Multi-Core	3978	7891

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The newer the processor, 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. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. The economy are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-7600K	AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
Announcement date	March 28, 2017	July 07, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151	AM4
Core name	Kaby Lake	Matisse
Architecture	x86	Zen 2
Generation	7	3
Turbo Frequency	4.2 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.8 MHz	3.8 MHz
Cores	4	6
Threads	4	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	4200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	91 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2133/2400, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR4
Max. Memory	64 Gb
Memory Frequency		3200
Memory bandwidth
L1 cache		384KB
L2 cache		3MB
L3 cache	6 MB	32MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	Expansion Options	100-000000022 100-100000022BOX 100-100000022MPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Another difference is that Ryzen 5 3600X has 2 more core than Core i5-7600K. 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 i5-7600K is better: 5
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is better: 31
However, it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should totally trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-7600K and AMD Ryzen 5 3600X before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Intel Core i5-7600K - all data

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

• Intel Core i5-7600K specs and review.

• AMD Ryzen 5 3600X specs and review.