AMD Ryzen 5 220 vs AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins every single head-to-head comparison recorded in the database, taking all 15 benchmark tests against the AMD Ryzen 5 2600. The Ryzen 5 220 posts an average benchmark score of 22289, compared to 21484 for the Ryzen 5 2600, a gap of roughly 3.7 percent. Both processors sit at the 75th percentile among all CPUs, but their nearest rivals tell different stories. The Ryzen 5 220 trades blows with the Intel Core i7-10700K, trailing by just 0.3 percent, and edges the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X by 1.4 percent. The Ryzen 5 2600, meanwhile, is essentially level with the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V, sitting 0.2 percent ahead, and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i9-11900H by 0.5 percent.

For a user deciding between these two, the data points firmly toward the Ryzen 5 220. It is a mobile processor built on a much newer design, and it dominates in every recorded workload. The Ryzen 5 2600 remains a functional desktop part, but it is outclassed in single-threaded, multi-threaded, and specialized instruction tests. The only scenario where the Ryzen 5 2600 holds any appeal is one where the desktop platform, AM4 socket, and legacy DDR4 memory support matter more than raw performance. The Ryzen 5 220 requires an FP8 socket and DDR5 memory, so a buyer with an existing AM4 system would need a full platform change regardless. Given that the Ryzen 5 220 wins every benchmark, the choice is straightforward for anyone building fresh: the Ryzen 5 220 delivers more performance in every measured category.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins all multi-core tests. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 15502, though the Ryzen 5 2600 was not tested in that specific benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Ryzen 5 220 scores 1562 against 1248, a 25.2 percent advantage. In Geekbench multicore, it scores 7974 against 5648, a 41.2 percent lead. PassMark multithread shows 18582 versus 13160, again a 41.2 percent advantage.

Q: How large is the single-threaded performance gap?

A: The Ryzen 5 220 leads substantially in every single-thread test. Geekbench single-core shows 2027 versus 1154, a 75.6 percent advantage. Cinebench R15 single-core shows 220 versus 157.3, a 39.9 percent lead. PassMark single-thread shows 3646 versus 2239, a 62.8 percent advantage. The Ryzen 5 220's boost clock of 4.90 GHz compared to 3.90 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600 helps explain this gap.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads. However, the Ryzen 5 220 uses the Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Ryzen 5 2600 uses the Zen architecture on a 12 nm process from GlobalFoundries. The newer process and architecture deliver the performance advantage despite identical core counts.

Q: Which processor supports DDR5 memory?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen 5 220 supports DDR5 memory. It also has a dual-channel memory bus with a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Ryzen 5 2600 supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s, roughly half the bandwidth of the newer part.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 2600 unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, the Ryzen 5 2600 has an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen 5 220 does not. This means the older desktop chip can be manually overclocked, while the mobile part is locked. The Ryzen 5 2600 also has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz compared to 3.20 GHz on the Ryzen 5 220.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 220 includes Radeon 740M integrated graphics. The Ryzen 5 2600 has no integrated graphics, meaning it requires a discrete GPU for display output. The Ryzen 5 220 also has a much lower TDP of 28 watts compared to 65 watts on the Ryzen 5 2600.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are separated by several generations of AMD design. The Ryzen 5 220 uses the Zen 4 architecture under the codename Hawk Point, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. The Ryzen 5 2600 uses the original Zen architecture under the codename Pinnacle Ridge, built on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The transistor counts reflect this gap: the Ryzen 5 220 packs 20,900 million transistors on a 137 mm² die, while the Ryzen 5 2600 has 4,800 million transistors on a 213 mm² die. The newer process allows far more transistors in a smaller area, which is a primary driver of the performance difference.

Cache hierarchies also differ between the two. The Ryzen 5 220 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 1 MB of L2 cache per core, with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 2600 has 96 KB of L1 per core and 512 KB of L2 per core, also with 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 220 therefore has more L2 cache per core, while the Ryzen 5 2600 has more L1 cache per core. Total shared L3 is identical at 16 MB for both.

Memory architecture is another major split. The Ryzen 5 220 supports DDR5 memory with dual-channel access and a bandwidth of 89.6 GB/s. The Ryzen 5 2600 supports DDR4 memory, also dual-channel, with a bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. The PCIe implementation also differs: the Ryzen 5 220 offers Gen 4 with 14 lanes from the CPU, while the Ryzen 5 2600 offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The newer part has faster PCIe generations but fewer lanes.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ, drawn directly from recorded specifications.

| Field | AMD Ryzen 5 220 | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Series | null | 2000 series |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 3.40 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.90 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 28 watts | 65 watts |

| Socket | AMD Socket FP8 | AMD Socket AM4 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen |

| Codename | Hawk Point | Pinnacle Ridge |

| Generation | Ryzen 5 (Zen 4 (Hawk Point)) | Ryzen 5 (Zen+ (Pinnacle Ridge)) |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 12 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 20,900 million | 4,800 million |

| Die Size | 137 mm² | 213 mm² |

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

| L2 Cache | 1 MB per core | 512 KB per core |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 89.6 GB/s | 46.9 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon 740M | null |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2018-04-18 |

| Launch MSRP | null | $199 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | false | true |

| Part Number | 100-000001611 | YD2600BBM6IAF |

The base clock is higher on the Ryzen 5 2600, but the boost clock is far higher on the Ryzen 5 220. The TDP difference is dramatic: 28 watts versus 65 watts. The Ryzen 5 220 is a mobile part with integrated graphics, while the Ryzen 5 2600 is a desktop part without any integrated GPU. The Ryzen 5 2600 is also unlocked, allowing overclocking, and it was released in 2018 with a launch MSRP of $199.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Ryzen 5 220 wins all 15 recorded head-to-head comparisons. The largest victory comes in PassMark extended instructions, where the Ryzen 5 220 scores 15512 against 7168, a 116.4 percent advantage. This test measures SIMD and specialized instruction throughput, and the Zen 4 architecture delivers more than double the performance of the original Zen design.

The second-largest win is in Geekbench single-core, where the Ryzen 5 220 scores 2027 against 1154, a 75.6 percent lead. PassMark find prime numbers shows a similar margin: 65 versus 37, also a 75.7 percent advantage. These single-threaded results reflect the large boost clock advantage and architectural improvements.

PassMark single-thread shows 3646 versus 2239, a 62.8 percent lead. PassMark floating point math shows 35500 versus 22942, a 54.7 percent advantage. PassMark physics shows 983 versus 673, a 46.1 percent lead. Geekbench multicore and PassMark multithread both show 41.2 percent advantages, with scores of 7974 versus 5648 and 18582 versus 13160 respectively.

Cinebench R15 single-core shows a 39.9 percent lead, with 220 versus 157.3. PassMark integer math shows 57987 versus 44518, a 30.3 percent advantage. Cinebench R15 multicore shows 1562 versus 1248, a 25.2 percent lead. PassMark random string sorting shows 25433 versus 21591, a 17.8 percent advantage. PassMark data compression shows 212739 versus 187062, a 13.7 percent lead. The narrowest margin is in PassMark data encryption, where the Ryzen 5 220 scores 12493 against 12429, just a 0.5 percent advantage.

The Ryzen 5 220 also has Cinebench R20 and R23 results recorded that have no counterpart for the Ryzen 5 2600. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it scores 6510, and in single-core, 918. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 15502, and in single-core, 2188. These scores further reinforce its multi-threaded and single-threaded strength, though direct comparisons are not possible for those tests.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 220 wins in every recorded category. There is no benchmark in the database where the Ryzen 5 2600 comes out ahead. The Ryzen 5 220 is the stronger choice for any workload that appears in the data: single-threaded responsiveness, multi-threaded rendering, encryption, compression, physics simulation, floating point math, integer math, extended instruction sets, prime number calculation, and random string sorting.

The Ryzen 5 2600 still has a few structural advantages that are not reflected in benchmark scores. It is a desktop processor with an unlocked multiplier, so users who want manual overclocking can push it beyond stock settings. It uses the AM4 socket, which is a widely deployed platform with a large installed base. It supports DDR4 memory, which may be more accessible for users with existing DDR4 modules. Its base clock is higher at 3.40 GHz, and it has more L1 cache per core at 96 KB.

However, none of those advantages translate into a benchmark win. The data shows the Ryzen 5 220 ahead in every test, often by large margins. The Ryzen 5 2600 also has no integrated graphics, so a system built around it requires a discrete GPU for any display output. The Ryzen 5 220 includes Radeon 740M graphics, which can handle display duties without a separate card. For a buyer choosing strictly on recorded performance, the Ryzen 5 220 is the clear pick. The Ryzen 5 2600 is only relevant for those who specifically need an unlocked desktop processor on the AM4 platform with DDR4 support, and who are willing to accept lower performance in every benchmark category.