AMD Ryzen 5 2600X vs Intel Core i7-6900K

Comparative analysis of AMD Ryzen 5 2600X and Intel Core i7-6900K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Peripherals, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics, Security & Reliability. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

Intel Core i7-6900K

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 11 month(s) later
Around 14% higher clock speed: 4.2 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 12 nm FinFET vs 14 nm
2.3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% more L2 cache; more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
Around 47% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 140 Watt
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2382 vs 2327
Around 4% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1048 vs 1005

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	19 April 2018 vs May 2016
Maximum frequency	4.2 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm FinFET vs 14 nm
L1 cache	576 KB vs 32 KB (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2382 vs 2327
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1048 vs 1005

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6900K

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 6
4 more threads: 16 vs 12
Around 25% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 4% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 14462 vs 13895
Around 37% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 7893 vs 5755
2.4x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 8778 vs 3664

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	8 vs 6
Number of threads	16 vs 12
L3 cache	20480 KB (shared) vs 16 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	14462 vs 13895
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7893 vs 5755
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	8778 vs 3664

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-6900K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2382

2327

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

13895

14462

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1048

1005

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

5755

7893

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

3664

8778

Name	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X	Intel Core i7-6900K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2382	2327
PassMark - CPU mark	13895	14462
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1048	1005
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	5755	7893
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	3664	8778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)		10.395
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)		179.127
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)		1.3
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)		5.194
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)		13.602

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Ryzen 5 2600X	Intel Core i7-6900K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Zen+	Broadwell E
Family	AMD Ryzen Processors
Launch date	19 April 2018	May 2016
Launch price (MSRP)	$229	$1,020
OPN PIB	YD260XBCAFBOX
OS Support	Windows 10 - 64-Bit Edition, RHEL x86 64-Bit, Ubuntu x86 64-Bit
Place in performance rating	1297	1316
Price now	$218.99	$1,198.99
Series	AMD Ryzen 5 Desktop Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Value for money (0-100)	19.29	4.35
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		i7-6900K
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.6 GHz	3.20 GHz
Die size	209.78 mm
L1 cache	576 KB	32 KB (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	16 MB	20480 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm FinFET	14 nm
Maximum core temperature	95°C
Maximum frequency	4.2 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	6	8
Number of threads	12	16
Transistor count	4940 Million
Unlocked
Maximum case temperature (TCase)		72 °C
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Supported memory frequency	2933 MHz
Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR4 2400/2133
Maximum memory size		128 GB
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM4	FCLGA2011-3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	140 Watt
Thermal Solution	Wraith Spire
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
PCI Express revision	3.0 x16	3.0
Max number of PCIe lanes		40
Scalability		1S Only
Advanced Technologies
AMD Ryzen VR-Ready Premium
AMD SenseMI
AMD StoreMI technology
Intel® AES New Instructions
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Virtualization
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Graphics
Processor graphics		None
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)