AMD Ryzen 5 4600U vs Intel Core i5-6600K Comparison

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U and Intel Core i5-6600K represent two very different philosophies in processor design: a modern 7 nm mobile part with a 15 W TDP facing a legacy 14 nm desktop chip with a 91 W TDP. The benchmark data shows a decisive generational shift, with the Ryzen 5 4600U winning three of the four head-to-head tests, often by massive margins. This analysis examines the data point by point, covering architectural differences, benchmark performance, and the specific use cases where each processor retains an advantage.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has an average benchmark score of 1832, while the Intel Core i5-6600K has an average score of 1816. This places both processors at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What is the most significant performance gap between the two in the head-to-head data?

A: The largest gap is in the Cinebench R15 single-core test, where the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U scores 175.5 versus 76 for the Intel Core i5-6600K, a delta of 130.9% in favor of AMD.

Q: In which benchmark does the Intel Core i5-6600K outperform the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600K wins the Geekbench single-core test with a score of 1363, compared to 1347 for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U, representing a 1.2% advantage for Intel.

Q: How do the core and thread counts compare between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-6600K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD part also has a larger shared L3 cache: 8 MB versus 6 MB.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has a TDP of 15 watts, while the Intel Core i5-6600K has a TDP of 91 watts. This reflects their different market segments: mobile versus desktop.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock speed?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, which is slightly higher than the Intel Core i5-6600K's boost clock of 3.90 GHz. However, the Intel part has a higher base clock at 3.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two parts is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is built on the Zen 2 architecture, code-named Renoir, using a 7 nm process node fabricated by TSMC. The Intel Core i5-6600K uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process node fabricated by Intel. This process advantage gives the AMD part a significant efficiency lead, reflected in its 15 W TDP compared to Intel's 91 W TDP.

The core configurations differ fundamentally. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U provides 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-6600K provides 4 cores and 4 threads. This means the AMD part supports simultaneous multithreading while the Intel part does not. Cache hierarchies also differ: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, but the AMD part has 512 KB of L2 cache per core versus 256 KB on the Intel part. The shared L3 cache is 8 MB on the AMD part versus 6 MB on the Intel part.

Memory support diverges as well. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. The Intel Core i5-6600K supports DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Neither processor supports ECC memory. Both use PCIe Gen 3, though the Intel part specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only, while AMD's lane configuration is not detailed.

The integrated graphics differ: the AMD part features Radeon RX Vega 6, while the Intel part has HD Graphics 530. Market positioning is also distinct: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is a mobile part on the AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel Core i5-6600K is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151. The AMD part is currently active in production, while the Intel part is end-of-life. The AMD part's multiplier is locked, whereas the Intel part's multiplier is unlocked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data reveals a lopsided contest. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U scores 1089 against the Intel Core i5-6600K's 540, a delta of 101.7% — meaning the AMD part more than doubles the Intel part's multi-threaded rendering performance. This is a direct consequence of the core and thread advantage, with the AMD part offering 50% more cores and three times the thread count.

The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows an even larger relative gap, though both scores are low. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U scores 175.5 versus 76 for the Intel Core i5-6600K, a delta of 130.9%. This is surprising given that the Intel part has a higher base clock, but the data clearly shows the Zen 2 architecture delivering superior single-thread performance in this particular test.

In Geekbench multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U scores 4715 against 3856 for the Intel Core i5-6600K, a delta of 22.3%. This is a more modest but still decisive win for AMD, reflecting the Geekbench workload's sensitivity to both core count and memory bandwidth. The AMD part's higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s) likely contributes to this advantage.

The only Intel win comes in Geekbench single-core, where the Intel Core i5-6600K scores 1363 against the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U's 1347, a delta of -1.2% from AMD's perspective. This is a narrow margin, essentially a statistical tie, but it does show that the older Skylake architecture retains some single-threaded capability in specific workloads.

The overall win tally stands at 3 wins for the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U and 1 win for the Intel Core i5-6600K. The magnitude of the AMD wins, particularly the 101.7% and 130.9% deltas in Cinebench, outweighs the Intel single-core win.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear verdict: the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the superior processor for almost all workloads. The benchmark results show it delivering double the multi-core Cinebench R15 performance and a 22.3% advantage in Geekbench multi-core. The single-core Geekbench test is the only area where the Intel Core i5-6600K leads, and that lead is just 1.2%, which is within the margin of error for most testing.

The architectural advantages of the AMD part are overwhelming. It has 50% more cores, three times the threads, a larger L3 cache (8 MB versus 6 MB), double the L2 cache per core (512 KB versus 256 KB), and 50% higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s). All of this is delivered at a 15 W TDP versus 91 W, a six-fold efficiency improvement.

The Intel Core i5-6600K does have one advantage beyond the Geekbench single-core score: it has an unlocked multiplier, allowing for overclocking. However, the data does not include any overclocked benchmark results, so the potential benefit is unquantified. The Intel part also has a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz), which may help in short, lightly-threaded bursts, though the boost clocks are nearly identical (3.90 GHz versus 4.00 GHz).

For any user prioritizing multi-threaded performance, energy efficiency, or modern platform features, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U is the clear choice. The Intel Core i5-6600K's single-core Geekbench win is too narrow to offset the massive deficits elsewhere. The only scenario where the Intel part makes sense is if the unlocked multiplier is used for aggressive overclocking in a desktop system, and even then, the data offers no evidence that such overclocking would close the multi-core gap.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every specification category. The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U has 6 cores and 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-6600K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD part has a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz; the Intel part has a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. TDP differs dramatically: 15 W for AMD versus 91 W for Intel.

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600U uses the AMD Socket FP6, while the Intel Core i5-6600K uses Intel Socket 1151. The AMD part is built on Zen 2 (Renoir) at 7 nm by TSMC, with 9,800 million transistors on a 156 mm² die. The Intel part is built on Skylake at 14 nm by Intel, with no transistor count or die size listed. Cache configurations differ: both have 64 KB L1 per core, but the AMD part has 512 KB L2 per core versus 256 KB, and 8 MB shared L3 versus 6 MB.

Memory support differs: AMD supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while Intel supports DDR3 and DDR4 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Both are dual-channel and neither supports ECC. PCIe is Gen 3 for both, though Intel specifies 16 lanes from the CPU only. Integrated graphics are Radeon RX Vega 6 on AMD versus HD Graphics 530 on Intel. The AMD part is a mobile processor, active in production, released on 2020-01-05. The Intel part is a desktop processor, end-of-life, released on 2015-08-04. The Intel part has a launch MSRP of $242, an unlocked multiplier, and part number SR2L4; the AMD part has no launch MSRP, a locked multiplier, and part number 100-000000105.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins in: Multi-threaded rendering workloads, as shown by the 101.7% advantage in Cinebench R15 multi-core. General multi-core performance, evidenced by the 22.3% win in Geekbench multi-core. Single-threaded Cinebench R15 performance, where it leads by 130.9%. Energy-sensitive environments, given its 15 W TDP versus 91 W. Modern mobile platforms requiring the FP6 socket and LPDDR4 memory support. Tasks that benefit from higher memory bandwidth (51.2 GB/s). Workloads that scale with thread count, leveraging 12 threads versus 4.

Intel Core i5-6600K wins in: The Geekbench single-core test, scoring 1363 versus 1347, a 1.2% margin. Scenarios requiring a higher base clock (3.50 GHz versus 2.10 GHz) for consistent short-burst performance. Desktop systems with the Socket 1151 platform and DDR3 memory compatibility. Overclocking scenarios, thanks to the unlocked multiplier, though the data provides no overclocked benchmark scores to quantify this advantage. Legacy software that performs better on older architectures without simultaneous multithreading. Users who need a processor with a specific part number (SR2L4) for compatibility with existing motherboards.

The data shows that the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U wins in three of the four head-to-head benchmarks, with the sole Intel victory being a narrow 1.2% margin in Geekbench single-core. The AMD part's wins are not just more numerous but also more decisive, with two of the three wins exceeding a 100% delta. The Intel part's only substantive advantages are its unlocked multiplier and higher base clock, neither of which is reflected in the provided benchmark scores. For any workload that is even moderately multi-threaded, the AMD Ryzen 5 4600U delivers substantially better performance at a fraction of the power draw.