Intel Core i5-6600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Processor comparisons   04-02-2023
   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-6600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and understand which is better for games or normal use for video editing, streaming, rendering, machine learning, programming. Here is useful information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests such as Dolphin Emulator, RealBench, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), PassMark, Gears 5, Furmark, PCMark 10, Prime95, Handbrake, MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, Blender, 7zip, UserBenchmark, WPrime, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Blender, AIDA64, SuperPi, 3DMark, GeekBench 6, 5.2.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming AMD Ryzen 5 2600 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 2600

54%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Ryzen 5 2600 is 5% 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 2600

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.9	94.8
Valorant	105.5	107.8
Cyberpunk 2077	59.1	60.4
Apex Legends	99.2	101.3
Call of Duty Warzone	79.1	80.8
Overwatch	85.5	87.3
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.8	74.4
DOOM Eternal	52.8	53.9
Warzone	82.3	84.1
Assassin's Creed	88.6	90.5
Valheim	87.6	89.5

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 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: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, 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 2600

56%

To make a finishing decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Ryzen 5 2600 is more energy efficient than the Core i5-6600K as it consumes less power: 91W vs. 65W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must 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 machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, programming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum performance, the CPU includes 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 find out whether the program 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 i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	166	164
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	600	1310
Cinbench 20 Single-core	395	374
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1572	2736
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1041	1024
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3965	7220

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

	Intel Core i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Single-Core	2356	2280
Multi-Core	6286	13255

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

	Intel Core i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Single-Core	1399	1104
Multi-Core	4766	6712

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-6600K	AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Announcement date	September 26, 2015	April 19, 2018
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151	AM4
Core name	Skylake	Pinnacle Ridge
Architecture	x86	Zen+
Generation	6	2
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	3.9 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	4	6
Threads	4	12
Bus rate	8 GT/s	4 Ã— 8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	12 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	3600 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		2933
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	YD2600BBM6IAF YD2600BBAFBOX YD2600BBAFMPK

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-6600K is 2% better than Ryzen 5 2600 in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Ryzen 5 2600 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: 11
The number of parameters for which AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is better: 26
However, it should be understood that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should entirely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the reviews of of people who bought Intel Core i5-6600K and AMD Ryzen 5 2600 before making a selection which of the processors to buy for gaming.

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 2600 specs and review.