Intel Core-i5 9600k vs Ryzen 7 2700x – Which one i can go for

Intel Core-i5 9600k vs Ryzen 7 2700x Comparison

We compared two desktop CPUs: the 3.7 GHz Intel Core i5 9600K with 6-cores against the 3.7 GHz AMD Ryzen 7 2700X with 8-cores. On this page, you’ll find out which processor has better performance in benchmarks, games and other useful information.

General

Vendor	Intel	AMD
Released	October 8, 2018	April 19, 2018
Launch price	263 USD	329 USD
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Codename	Coffee Lake	Zen+
Model number	i5-9600K	–
Socket	LGA-1151	AM4
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics 630	No

Performance

Cores	6	8
Threads	6	16
Base Frequency	3.7 GHz	3.7 GHz
Turbo Boost Frequency	4.6 GHz	4.3 GHz
Bus frequency	100 MHz	100 MHz
Multiplier	37x	37x
Bus Bandwidth	8 GT/s	–
L1 Cache	64K (per core)	96K (per core)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512K (per core)
L3 Cache	9MB (shared)	16MB (shared)
Unlocked Multiplier	Yes	Yes

Power

Transistors	–	4.8 billions
Fabrication process	14 nm	12 nm
TDP	95 W	105 W
Max. temperature	100°C	85°C

Memory support

Memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Memory Size	128 GB	64 GB
Max. Memory Channels	2	2
Max. Memory Bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	43.71 GB/s
ECC Support	No	Yes

Misc

Official site	Intel Core i5 9600K official page	AMD Ryzen 7 2700X official page
PCI Express Version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express Lanes	16	20
Instruction Set	SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX-2	–

Check Out: Best Motherboards for Ryzen 7 2700x

Intel Core-i5 9600k Features

The Intel Core-i5 9600K is the company’s 9^th generation coffee lake built on a 14nm FinFet manufacturing process. The 9600K features 6 cores, with no Hyper-threading support, which means that a single core can execute only one thread at a time, making a total of 6 threads on the 9600K.

Although Intel has cut off the Hyper-threading support from the i5-9600K, its exceptional single-threaded performance makes it an ideal processor for gaming enthusiasts. It also features the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU that makes sure to boost your processor’s gaming performance further. Its superb single-core performance runs every game with ease and even edges most Ryzen processors in gaming performance. It clocks up to 3.7GHz on the Base frequency and up to 4.6GHz on Turbo Boost frequency.

Intel has again made sure not to give a second thought that their Cache sizes are way much pitiful than the Cache sizes of Ryzen processors. It features a 1.5MB of L2 cache size and a shared 9MB of L3 cache size, which is very disappointing. It also comes with the DDR4-2666 RAM type with 128GB size and theoretical bandwidths up to 41.6GB/s with no ECC support.

The Core-i5 9600K features a TDP of 95W with maximum working temperatures up to 100C, and sadly, it does not come with a bundled cooler, so there are more chances of hitting the maximum temperature once in a while. Also, the unlocked multipliers aren’t of great help too; without a bundled cooler, there isn’t any hope of achieving higher frequencies.

Ryzen 7 2700x Features

The Ryzen 7 2700X is one of the most outstanding 2^nd generation processors released by AMD back in 2018, based on the company’s improved Zen+ architecture. The Zen+ is the new and improved architecture, successor to the 1^st generation Zen architecture. The new and improved architecture has helped AMD to boost the processor’s overall performance.

The first great thing that we notice is that AMD has reduced its manufacturing process from 14nm to 12nm. It is built on a 12nm fabrication process that features 8 cores with multi-threading support, which means that each core executes two threads at a time, making a total of 16 threads. The multi-threading support and higher number of cores allow it to handle severe workloads without trouble, making it a workstation.

The new architecture has also allowed AMD to clock more frequencies; the 2700X clocks up to 3.7GHz on the Base frequency and 4.3GHz on Turbo Boost. As always, AMD’s Cache sizes are again superior to that of Intel’s processors; the 2700X features a 4MB of L2 cache size and a shared 16MB of L3 cache size. It also features a DDR4-2933 RAM with 64GB memory size and memory bandwidths up to 43.71GB/s with ECC support.

Moreover, it also features a TDP of 105W with a maximum working temperature of up to 85C. The Thermal Design Power may not be that much great, but its bundled Wraith Prism cooler will make sure to keep the temperatures low, avoid overheating, be more power-efficient, and offer excellent performance.

The Intel Core-i5 9600K vs Ryzen 7 2700X [Main Difference]

The min difference between Intel i5 9600K vs Ryzen 7 2700X is CPU cores. Ryzen 7 2700X, featuring a higher core count and multi-threading support, pulls ahead of the i5-9600k in multitasking and handling heavy workloads. The Ryzen processor is way better than the 9600K when it comes to multi-threaded performance. The 2700X is more like a workstation, which is ideal for multitaskers; it handles intensive applications like 3D animations, photo/video editing without any setbacks.

On the other hand, the Core-i5 9600 features 6 cores with no Hyper-threading support, which means it has a lower core and thread count than the 2700X, but its excellent single-core performance makes it an ideal processor for gaming enthusiasts. The 9600K is way superior to the 2700X in single-core performance and running the latest games. 

Although, the single-core performance gap of the 9600K isn’t that much great, and when playing on higher resolutions, the performance gap shrinks even more. While the 2700X handles severe workloads exceptionally well, and the performance gap is also quite noticeable. So, one processor is superior in single-core performance, while the other is superior in multi-threaded workloads.

Final Result

As we have discussed above, both the processors offer excellent performances in their zones. The 9600K overtakes the 2700X in single-core performances, making it a better choice for gaming fanatics. While the 2700X overtakes the 9600K in multi-threaded performance, making it more ideal for multitasking.  

The Ryzen 7 2700X is also an admirable choice for gamers. The performance gap isn’t that significant. When switched to higher resolutions, the performance gap between the 9600K and 2700X is almost minimal. So, if you’re a true gamer, and care about the smallest details in your gaming experience, then you should buy the Intel Core-i5 9600K as it offers a superior gaming performance on paper.

But, if you’re a multitasker, like buying a processor that can handle severe workloads and satisfy your gaming needs, then the Ryzen 7 2700X is the perfect choice for you. The Ryzen processor will provide almost the same gaming performance and handle heavy workloads without any trouble.

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