AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE vs Intel Core i5-6600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6600K and the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE represent two very different approaches to desktop computing, separated by roughly three years of design philosophy. The i5-6600K, a 2015 enthusiast part with a fully unlocked multiplier, was built for high-clock, low-thread workloads. The 2400GE, released in 2018, is a low-power APU that pairs a quad-core Zen design with Radeon Vega graphics. The benchmark data in the database shows a clear pattern: the Ryzen 5 2400GE wins every single recorded head-to-head test, despite its lower clock speeds and much lower power envelope. This is not a close contest by the numbers, but the reasons behind it are instructive for anyone choosing between an older high-end chip and a newer efficiency-focused part.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six direct comparisons between these two processors, all from the Cinebench suite. In every single test, the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE comes out ahead. The margins are consistent, hovering around 12 percent in favor of the AMD chip. For example, in Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-6600K scores 540 while the 2400GE scores 615, a delta of 12.2 percent. The single-core R15 test shows a similar story: 76 for Intel versus 86 for AMD, an 11.6 percent advantage for the Ryzen part.

Moving to newer workloads, Cinebench R20 multicore gives the i5-6600K a score of 2252 and the 2400GE a score of 2564, again a 12.2 percent gap. The R20 single-core test shows 317 for Intel and 362 for AMD, a 12.4 percent delta. The most demanding test in the set, Cinebench R23, reinforces the trend: multicore scores are 5363 for the i5-6600K and 6107 for the 2400GE, while single-core scores are 757 and 862 respectively. Both R23 results show a 12.2 percent advantage for AMD.

What is striking is that the i5-6600K has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) and a higher boost clock (3.90 GHz versus 3.80 GHz), yet it still loses in single-threaded tests. The Ryzen's 12.4 percent single-core lead in R20 suggests that the Zen architecture's efficiency per clock, combined with its simultaneous multithreading (SMT), delivers better results even when the raw frequency is lower. The i5-6600K, with only 4 threads, cannot match the 8 threads of the 2400GE in multicore workloads, but the single-core wins show that thread count alone does not explain the gap.

The average benchmark score in the database tells a similar tale. The i5-6600K posts an average score of 1816, while the 2400GE posts 1766. That puts the Intel part slightly ahead in the aggregate, but the head-to-head results are unambiguous: in every recorded Cinebench test, the AMD chip wins. The percentile rankings are close as well, with the i5-6600K at the 42nd percentile of all CPUs and the 2400GE at the 41st. These figures indicate that both processors sit in the mid-range of the database's tested hardware, but the direct comparisons favor AMD consistently.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-6600K beat the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE in any benchmark?

A: No. The database records six head-to-head Cinebench tests, and the Ryzen 5 2400GE wins all six. The Intel part does not secure a single victory in any recorded comparison.

Q: How large is the performance gap in multicore workloads?

A: In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 2400GE scores 615 versus 540 for the i5-6600K, a 12.2 percent lead. The same 12.2 percent delta appears in R20 multicore (2564 versus 2252) and R23 multicore (6107 versus 5363).

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600K has a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE boosts to 3.80 GHz. Despite the lower frequency, the AMD part wins all single-core tests in the database.

Q: What is the TDP difference between these two chips?

A: The i5-6600K has a TDP of 91 watts, while the 2400GE has a TDP of 35 watts. The AMD part delivers higher benchmark scores while drawing less than half the power according to the TDP figures.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: Yes, both the i5-6600K and the 2400GE have an unlocked multiplier, as indicated in the database. This means either chip can be manually overclocked if the motherboard and cooling allow it.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-6600K has an average benchmark score of 1816, and the 2400GE has an average of 1766. The Intel part is about 2.8 percent higher in this aggregate metric, but this does not reflect the head-to-head results where AMD wins every test.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural lineages. The Intel Core i5-6600K is built on Skylake, a 14 nm design fabricated by Intel. It uses a monolithic die with four cores and four threads, meaning no simultaneous multithreading is available. Each core has 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache, with a shared 6 MB L3 cache. The memory controller supports both DDR3 and DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with a recorded memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE is a Raven Ridge APU based on the Zen architecture, also on a 14 nm process but fabricated by GlobalFoundries. It packs four cores and eight threads, using SMT to double the thread count. The cache hierarchy differs notably: each core has 128 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2, with a smaller shared L3 cache of 4 MB. Memory support is limited to DDR4 in dual-channel mode, but the bandwidth is higher at 46.9 GB/s. The die is larger at 210 mm² and contains 4,950 million transistors, reflecting the integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics.

The integrated graphics are a major point of divergence. The i5-6600K includes HD Graphics 530, a modest GPU designed for basic display output and light media tasks. The 2400GE, by contrast, includes Radeon RX Vega 11, a much more capable integrated solution. This makes the AMD part a genuine APU, suitable for gaming at low settings without a discrete graphics card, whereas the Intel chip would struggle in any graphically demanding workload.

Another architectural difference lies in PCIe support. The i5-6600K provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the 2400GE provides only 8. This matters for users planning to install a high-end discrete GPU, as the Intel part offers more bandwidth for expansion. The 2400GE's 8 lanes are sufficient for most mid-range cards but could limit top-tier models.

The power characteristics also reflect the design goals. The i5-6600K has a TDP of 91 watts, typical for an unlocked desktop part of its era. The 2400GE has a TDP of just 35 watts, targeting compact builds and low-noise systems. This 56-watt difference is substantial and directly impacts cooling requirements and electricity consumption, even though the AMD part delivers higher benchmark scores.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear winner for raw compute performance. The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE outperforms the Intel Core i5-6600K in every recorded Cinebench test, with margins between 11.6 percent and 12.4 percent. This is true across both single-core and multicore workloads, which is remarkable given the Intel part's higher clock speeds. The 2400GE achieves this with a TDP of 35 watts versus 91 watts for the i5-6600K, making it the more efficient choice by a wide margin.

For users building a new system today, the 2400GE is the more sensible pick from a performance standpoint. It offers higher scores, a much lower power draw, and a vastly superior integrated GPU. The i5-6600K does have a few advantages in the database: a higher average benchmark score (1816 versus 1766), a slightly better percentile ranking (42 versus 41), and more PCIe lanes (16 versus 8). These factors might matter for specific use cases, such as pairing with a high-end GPU or relying on the aggregate metric to gauge overall capability.

However, the i5-6600K is listed as end-of-life production, while the 2400GE is marked as active. This means the AMD part is likely easier to source new, and its AM4 socket offers a potential upgrade path within the same platform. The Intel chip's socket, Intel Socket 1151, is an older generation with limited modern compatibility. For anyone starting from scratch, the 2400GE is the better choice based on the recorded data.

Specification Differences

The key differences between the two processors are as follows:

• Cores and threads: The i5-6600K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the 2400GE has 4 cores and 8 threads.
• Base clock: 3.50 GHz for the i5-6600K, 3.20 GHz for the 2400GE.
• Boost clock: 3.90 GHz for the i5-6600K, 3.80 GHz for the 2400GE.
• TDP: 91 watts for the i5-6600K, 35 watts for the 2400GE.
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 for the i5-6600K, AMD Socket AM4 for the 2400GE.
• Cache: The i5-6600K has 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, with 6 MB shared L3. The 2400GE has 128 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, with 4 MB shared L3.
• Memory support: The i5-6600K supports DDR3 and DDR4; the 2400GE supports DDR4 only.
• Memory bandwidth: 34.1 GB/s for the i5-6600K, 46.9 GB/s for the 2400GE.
• PCIe lanes: 16 lanes (Gen 3) for the i5-6600K, 8 lanes (Gen 3) for the 2400GE.
• Integrated graphics: HD Graphics 530 for the i5-6600K, Radeon RX Vega 11 for the 2400GE.
• Process node: Both are 14 nm, but the i5-6600K is fabricated by Intel, and the 2400GE by GlobalFoundries.
• Transistors and die size: The 2400GE has 4,950 million transistors on a 210 mm² die; the i5-6600K has no recorded values for these fields.
• Release date: The i5-6600K launched on 2015-08-04, the 2400GE on 2018-04-18.
• Production status: The i5-6600K is end-of-life, the 2400GE is active.
• Launch MSRP: The i5-6600K had a launch MSRP of $242; the 2400GE has no recorded launch MSRP.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE wins in every head-to-head benchmark in the database. This includes all six Cinebench tests, spanning R15, R20, and R23, and covering both single-core and multicore workloads. The margins are consistent, ranging from 11.6 percent to 12.4 percent. The 2400GE also wins on efficiency, with a 35 watt TDP compared to 91 watts for the i5-6600K. Its integrated Radeon RX Vega 11 graphics are significantly more capable than the Intel HD Graphics 530, making the AMD part the better choice for systems without a discrete GPU. The 2400GE also supports faster memory bandwidth at 46.9 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, and it is currently in active production.

The Intel Core i5-6600K does retain some advantages, though they are not reflected in the benchmark wins. Its average benchmark score of 1816 is higher than the 2400GE's 1766, placing it at the 42nd percentile of all CPUs versus the 41st for the AMD part. The i5-6600K also offers more PCIe lanes (16 versus 8), which is beneficial for high-bandwidth expansion cards. Its memory controller supports both DDR3 and DDR4, providing flexibility for older builds. The higher TDP of 91 watts suggests that, with adequate cooling, it might sustain boost clocks more aggressively, though the recorded benchmarks do not show this translating into higher scores. Finally, the i5-6600K had a launch MSRP of $242, which is a data point for historical reference, but the 2400GE has no recorded launch price.

For a practical recommendation, the 2400GE is the superior choice for almost any modern workload. The benchmark data is unambiguous, and the power efficiency is a major bonus. The i5-6600K might still appeal to someone with an existing Socket 1151 motherboard and a need for more PCIe lanes, but for new builds, the AMD part wins on every measurable compute test in the database.