Intel Core i7-2600K vs AMD Ryzen 5 1600
The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is the faster chip for gaming by roughly 5%. Here is the full spec-by-spec breakdown.
| Specification | Intel Core i7-2600K | AMD Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming score | 38/100 | 40/100 |
| Tier | D | D |
| Manufacturer | Intel | AMD |
| Cores | 4 | 6 |
| Threads | 8 | 12 |
| Base clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 3.8 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| Power draw (TDP) | 95 W | 65 W |
| Release year | 2011 | 2017 |
Which should you buy?
For gaming specifically, the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 is the better buy — it holds a 5% lead in our index, which shows up most at 1080p and in CPU-bound titles like strategy and simulation games. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 has more cores (6 vs 4), which helps if you stream, compile or render alongside playing. The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 runs 30W cooler, meaning a cheaper cooler and less case heat. Either way, pair it with a graphics card of similar standing — check the bottleneck calculator before you buy.