AMD Ryzen 5 2600H vs Intel Core i5-7600K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-7600K and AMD Ryzen 5 2600H are both 14 nm quad-core processors, yet they represent fundamentally different design philosophies: one is an unlocked desktop part aimed at maximum single-thread responsiveness, while the other is a power-efficient mobile chip built for sustained multi-threaded workloads. Despite the i5-7600K's higher clock speeds and desktop pedigree, the benchmark data shows the Ryzen 5 2600H winning all six head-to-head comparisons, with the AMD part delivering a consistent performance advantage of roughly 14.6% to 14.9% across every Cinebench iteration. This outcome is driven by the Ryzen's simultaneous multithreading (SMT), which doubles its thread count from 4 to 8, and a larger L1 cache per core, even though the i5-7600K has a higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.60 GHz.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-7600K has a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, which is 0.60 GHz higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H's 3.60 GHz boost clock.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H support more threads than the Intel Core i5-7600K?

A: Yes. The Ryzen 5 2600H has 8 threads, double the 4 threads of the i5-7600K, despite both having 4 physical cores.

Q: Which CPU scores higher in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H scores 6801 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, while the Intel Core i5-7600K scores 5792 points, giving the AMD part a 14.8% lead.

Q: Are both processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. The Intel Core i5-7600K has an unlocked multiplier, but the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H does not, as its multiplier is locked.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 2600H supports 51.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is 12.8 GB/s more than the 38.4 GB/s supported by the Intel Core i5-7600K.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The Intel Core i5-7600K has a shared L3 cache of 6 MB, which is 2 MB larger than the 4 MB shared L3 cache on the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split between the Intel Core i5-7600K and AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is significant, starting with their foundational designs. The i5-7600K is built on Intel's Kaby Lake architecture, fabricated by Intel itself on a 14 nm process node, and targets the desktop market segment with an Intel Socket 1151. In contrast, the Ryzen 5 2600H uses AMD's Zen architecture under the codename Raven Ridge, fabricated by GlobalFoundries on the same 14 nm node, and is designed for the mobile segment with an AMD Socket FP5.

The most impactful difference is thread count. The i5-7600K is a 4-core, 4-thread processor, while the Ryzen 5 2600H is a 4-core, 8-thread processor. This SMT capability allows the AMD chip to process two instructions per core simultaneously, which is the primary reason for its superior multi-threaded benchmark scores. Cache hierarchies also differ: the i5-7600K has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3, whereas the Ryzen 5 2600H has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, but only 4 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core L1 and L2 caches on the AMD part help feed its higher thread count, while the Intel part compensates with a larger L3 pool.

Memory bandwidth is another differentiator. Both use DDR4 and dual-channel memory, but the Ryzen 5 2600H supports 51.2 GB/s, compared to 38.4 GB/s for the i5-7600K. This 12.8 GB/s gap gives the AMD part an advantage in memory-bound workloads. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i5-7600K provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen 5 2600H provides Gen 3 with only 8 lanes, which is typical for mobile parts. Integrated graphics are present on both, but they are distinct: the i5-7600K features HD 630, while the Ryzen 5 2600H features Radeon Vega 8. Physically, the Ryzen 5 2600H is a larger die at 210 mm² with 4,950 million transistors, whereas the i5-7600K's die size and transistor count are not listed in the data.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H is the outright winner in every benchmark comparison, taking all 6 head-to-head tests with a consistent margin of 14.6% to 14.9%. For users prioritizing raw multi-threaded performance, such as video rendering or code compilation, the Ryzen 5 2600H's 8 threads deliver a decisive advantage over the i5-7600K's 4 threads. The benchmark results show the Ryzen part scoring 6801 in Cinebench R23 multi-core versus 5792 for the Intel part, a 1009-point gap that is substantial for a quad-core comparison. Even in single-core tests, which are typically a strength of higher-clocked Intel desktop chips, the Ryzen 5 2600H leads by 14.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core (960 vs 817), indicating that its architectural efficiency offsets the i5-7600K's 0.60 GHz boost clock advantage.

The Intel Core i5-7600K, however, is not without merit. It has a larger 6 MB L3 cache, a higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and an unlocked multiplier, which makes it the better choice for enthusiasts who plan to overclock and who are limited to the Intel Socket 1151 platform. The i5-7600K also targets the desktop market, offering 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes versus only 8 on the mobile-focused Ryzen 5 2600H, which is relevant for users with multiple expansion cards. For users on a desktop platform who value overclocking headroom and do not need SMT, the i5-7600K remains viable. For everyone else, particularly laptop users or those needing maximum multi-threaded throughput per watt, the Ryzen 5 2600H is the clear choice based on the benchmark data.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications, with the most critical being thread count, clock speeds, and socket compatibility. The Intel Core i5-7600K features 4 threads, a base clock of 3.80 GHz, and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, while the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H features 8 threads, a base clock of 3.20 GHz, and a boost clock of 3.60 GHz. This means the i5-7600K has a 0.60 GHz higher boost clock and a 0.60 GHz higher base clock, but the Ryzen 5 2600H compensates with twice the thread count. Thermal design power also diverges sharply: the i5-7600K has a TDP of 91 W, while the Ryzen 5 2600H is rated at just 45 W, reflecting its mobile focus and lower power envelope.

Cache configuration is another area of difference. The i5-7600K has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, with 6 MB of shared L3, whereas the Ryzen 5 2600H has 96 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with only 4 MB of shared L3. The AMD part's larger per-core caches (32 KB more L1 and 256 KB more L2 per core) are offset by its smaller L3 pool. Memory bandwidth also favors AMD, with 51.2 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s, a 12.8 GB/s difference. PCIe lanes are the opposite: the i5-7600K offers 16 Gen 3 lanes, double the 8 Gen 3 lanes of the Ryzen 5 2600H. The integrated GPU differs, with the i5-7600K using HD 630 and the Ryzen 5 2600H using Radeon Vega 8. The i5-7600K has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ryzen 5 2600H does not. The socket and market segment also differ: Intel Socket 1151 for desktop versus AMD Socket FP5 for mobile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a clean sweep for the AMD Ryzen 5 2600H, with the Intel Core i5-7600K failing to win a single test. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering around 14.6% to 14.9% across all six Cinebench tests, which indicates a systematic performance advantage rather than a workload-specific anomaly.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 5 2600H scores 685 points against the i5-7600K's 583 points, a delta of -14.9% for the Intel part. The single-core test in the same suite shows a similar story: 96 points for the AMD chip versus 82 points for the Intel chip, a -14.6% delta. This is particularly telling because the i5-7600K has a significantly higher boost clock of 4.20 GHz versus 3.60 GHz, yet it still loses single-core performance, suggesting the Zen architecture's IPC efficiency is superior on this workload.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the margins remain nearly identical. The Ryzen 5 2600H posts 2856 points in multi-core versus 2432 for the i5-7600K, a -14.8% delta. In single-core, the AMD part scores 403 versus 343, a -14.9% delta. The consistency of these deltas across different Cinebench versions (R15, R20, and R23) suggests that the performance gap is fundamental to the architectural differences, primarily the thread count advantage.

The latest Cinebench R23 results confirm the trend. In multi-core, the Ryzen 5 2600H achieves 6801 points, while the i5-7600K manages 5792 points, a -14.8% delta. Single-core sees 960 points for the AMD part versus 817 for the Intel part, a -14.9% delta. The absolute score differences are substantial: a 1009-point gap in multi-core and a 143-point gap in single-core. Given that the i5-7600K has a 44th percentile ranking among all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 1976, while the Ryzen 5 2600H also has a 44th percentile ranking but a slightly lower average score of 1967, the two are closely matched overall. However, the head-to-head results show that the Ryzen 5 2600H has a decisive edge in every Cinebench test, making it the superior choice for rendering and compute-heavy workloads according to the data.