AMD Ryzen 5 1500X vs Intel Core i5-7600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7600K and AMD Ryzen 5 1500X are both 14 nm desktop processors from 2017, but they represent fundamentally different design philosophies. The data shows a split decision: the Ryzen 5 1500X takes the majority of benchmark wins (4 out of 6), while the Core i5-7600K secures decisive victories in specific workloads, particularly in newer multi-threaded tests and single-core Geekbench. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Ryzen 5 1500X at 1992 and the Core i5-7600K at 1976, placing both in the 44th percentile of all CPUs. This near-parity in overall score, combined with divergent per-test results, makes the choice highly dependent on the intended application.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result in the head-to-head comparison is the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X scores 805 against the Intel Core i5-7600K’s 583. This is a 27.6% advantage for AMD, a substantial margin that highlights the benefit of simultaneous multithreading (SMT) in older rendering workloads. The Ryzen 5 1500X also wins the Cinebench R15 single-core test by an even larger relative margin, scoring 154 versus 82, a 46.8% difference. This is the single biggest delta in the entire comparison, though it is importantly these R15 single-core scores are anomalously low for the Intel part compared to its other single-core results.

The picture changes dramatically in the newer Cinebench R23 benchmark. Here, the Intel Core i5-7600K takes a commanding 26% lead in the multi-core test, scoring 5792 versus the Ryzen 5 1500X’s 4597. This reversal suggests that the R23 workload scales differently with the Intel architecture, possibly due to improvements in instruction-level parallelism or cache efficiency that favor the Kaby Lake design. In the R23 single-core test, however, the AMD part wins again, scoring 947 against 817, a 13.7% margin. This means the Ryzen 5 1500X holds a single-core advantage in both Cinebench R15 and R23, while the Intel part only wins single-core in Geekbench.

In Geekbench, the results are split by test type. The Intel Core i5-7600K wins the single-core test decisively, scoring 1522 versus 1122, a 35.7% advantage. This is the Intel part’s largest win and demonstrates a clear strength in lightly-threaded, latency-sensitive tasks as measured by Geekbench. Conversely, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X wins the Geekbench multi-core test, but by a narrow 2% margin, scoring 4326 versus 4239. This thin margin in Geekbench multi-core, despite the Ryzen’s 8 threads versus the Intel’s 4, suggests that the Intel cores are significantly more powerful per-thread in this benchmark.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divergence between these two CPUs is stark. The Intel Core i5-7600K is a Kaby Lake design with 4 cores and 4 threads, meaning no hyper-threading. It has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, with a TDP of 91 W. Its cache configuration includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, based on the Zen (Summit Ridge) architecture, also has 4 cores but doubles the thread count to 8 via SMT. Its clocks are lower, with a base of 3.50 GHz and a boost of 3.70 GHz, but its TDP is significantly lower at 65 W. The cache hierarchy is also different: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and a much larger 16 MB of shared L3 cache.

The process node is the same for both at 14 nm, but the foundries differ. Intel produces the i5-7600K in-house, while GlobalFoundries manufactures the Ryzen 5 1500X. The AMD chip has a transistor count of 4,800 million on a die size of 213 mm², whereas the Intel chip’s transistor count and die size are not listed in the data. Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel for both, but the AMD part has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for Intel. A notable feature difference is that the Ryzen 5 1500X supports ECC memory, while the Core i5-7600K does not. The Intel CPU includes integrated graphics (HD 630), while the AMD part has none. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, and both have unlocked multipliers for overclocking.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of distinct strengths. The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is the winner in older multi-threaded workloads, as evidenced by its 27.6% lead in Cinebench R15 multi-core. It also consistently outperforms the Intel part in single-core Cinebench tests, both R15 (46.8% ahead) and R23 (13.7% ahead). For tasks that rely on these specific benchmark patterns, such as legacy rendering or certain single-threaded scientific calculations, the Ryzen 5 1500X holds a measurable edge.

The Intel Core i5-7600K, conversely, dominates in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test, finishing 26% ahead of the Ryzen. This suggests that for modern multi-threaded rendering workloads, the Intel part is actually the stronger performer, despite having half the threads. The Intel chip also wins Geekbench single-core by a massive 35.7%, indicating superiority in tasks that are sensitive to raw clock speed and per-core IPC as measured by Geekbench. The Geekbench multi-core test is a near tie, with the AMD part winning by only 2%, so neither chip has a decisive claim there.

Looking at the overall win counts, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X wins 4 of the 6 head-to-head benchmarks, while the Intel Core i5-7600K wins 2. However, the magnitude of the Intel wins in R23 multi-core (26%) and Geekbench single-core (35.7%) is substantial, whereas the AMD wins in Geekbench multi-core (2%) and R15 single-core (46.8%) are mixed. The R15 single-core result is an outlier that skews the AMD win count; if that test were removed, the split would be even at 3 wins each, ignoring the anomalous score.

The Verdict

The choice between these two CPUs depends entirely on the workload profile. For users running older multi-threaded applications, particularly those that resemble Cinebench R15, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is the clear pick. Its 27.6% lead in that test and consistent single-core wins in R15 and R23 make it a solid choice for legacy software and general single-threaded tasks. The Ryzen 5 1500X also offers ECC memory support and a lower TDP of 65 W, which may matter for specific build requirements.

For users focused on modern multi-threaded rendering or for those who prioritize Geekbench single-core performance, the Intel Core i5-7600K is superior. Its 26% lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core is a significant margin that outweighs its single-thread deficits in the Cinebench suite. The 35.7% lead in Geekbench single-core suggests that for everyday applications that rely on single-thread speed, the Intel chip will feel snappier. The absence of integrated graphics on the AMD part means a discrete GPU is mandatory, whereas the Intel chip includes HD 630 graphics as a fallback. The data does not support a universal winner; it supports a workload-specific recommendation. The Intel Core i5-7600K is the better choice for R23-era multi-threading and Geekbench single-core, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X is better for R15-era multi-threading and Cinebench single-core.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has a slightly higher average benchmark score of 1992, compared to the Intel Core i5-7600K’s 1976. Both CPUs sit in the 44th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How do they compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i5-7600K wins decisively, scoring 5792 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X’s 4597, a 26% advantage for Intel.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-7600K does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The Intel Core i5-7600K has a TDP of 91 W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has a significantly lower TDP of 65 W.

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 1500X has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-7600K has 4 threads. Both have 4 cores.

Q: In which single-core benchmark does the Intel CPU win?

A: The Intel Core i5-7600K wins the Geekbench single-core test, scoring 1522 versus the AMD Ryzen 5 1500X’s 1122, a 35.7% margin. The AMD part wins both Cinebench single-core tests.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-7600K | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X |

|:--- |:--- |:--- |

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.80 GHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.20 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 91 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Foundry | Intel | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | Not listed | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | Not listed | 213 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 96 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 256 KB (per core) | 512 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 6 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated Graphics | HD 630 | None |

| Launch MSRP | Not listed | $189 |