AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 vs Intel Core i5-10600 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a remarkably consistent picture across all six Cinebench comparisons: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins every single test, but by margins that are almost negligible. The largest advantage appears in the multicore workloads, where the AMD part leads by 2.5% in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 alike. In R15 multicore, the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 scores 1013 against the Intel Core i5-10600's 988, a difference of 25 points. The R20 multicore test shows a similar pattern, with 4224 versus 4119, a 105-point gap. In R23 multicore, the scores are 10058 and 9809, respectively, again a 2.5% delta.

The single-core results are equally one-sided, though the margins shrink slightly. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 posts 142 in Cinebench R15 single-core, compared to 139 for the Core i5-10600, a 2.2% edge. In R20 single-core, the gap widens to 2.4%, with scores of 595 and 581. The R23 single-core test shows 1419 versus 1384, a 2.5% advantage. Every delta across the entire head-to-head set falls between 2.2% and 2.5%, indicating a small but consistent performance lead for the AMD processor in this benchmark suite.

It is importantly the Intel Core i5-10600 carries a substantially higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz compared to the Ryzen's 3.60 GHz, yet the benchmark data does not reflect that frequency advantage. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600's base clock of 3.20 GHz trails the Intel part's 3.30 GHz, but the measured scores favor AMD in every workload. This suggests that the architectural efficiency of the Zen design compensates for the lower clock speeds, at least within the Cinebench rendering workloads captured in this database.

The average benchmark scores place the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 at 2909, while the Core i5-10600 sits at 2837. That is a 72-point difference in aggregate, roughly 2.5% higher for the AMD chip. Both processors occupy the 51st percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they are statistically indistinguishable in overall standing despite the slight numerical edge for AMD. The nearest rivals for the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 include the Intel Core i5-1335UE at 2907 (a 0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon E-2186M at 2912 (a 0.1% delta in the other direction). For the Core i5-10600, the closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-6800K at 2838, with a delta of 0%, followed by the Intel Xeon E-2126G at 2842, a 0.2% difference.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is the faster processor in every measured Cinebench test. It wins all six head-to-head comparisons, including both multicore and single-core workloads, with margins ranging from 2.2% to 2.5%. The consistency of these results, across three generations of the Cinebench suite, suggests that the AMD chip holds a small but genuine performance advantage in rendering tasks.

The Intel Core i5-10600, despite its higher boost clock and more recent release date, cannot match the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 in any recorded benchmark. Its average score of 2837 falls below the AMD part's 2909, and its nearest rival cluster, including the Core i7-6800K and Xeon E-2126G, sits at or slightly below its own level. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600's nearest rivals, by contrast, include newer processors like the Core i5-1335UE and Xeon E-2186M, which bracket its score within a 0.4% range.

For a user choosing between these two processors based on the data alone, the decision is straightforward: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 offers a measurable, if modest, performance advantage across all tested workloads. The Intel part's only notable features in the database are its integrated UHD Graphics 630 and a specified memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, neither of which appears in the benchmark comparisons. The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 counters with a lower base clock but a higher average score, and it holds the edge in every single recorded test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most benchmarks in this comparison?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins all six head-to-head comparisons against the Intel Core i5-10600, covering Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multicore and single-core modes.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two CPUs?

A: The largest margin is 2.5%, recorded in Cinebench R15 multicore, R20 multicore, R23 multicore, and R23 single-core. The smallest margin is 2.2%, seen in Cinebench R15 single-core.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has an average benchmark score of 2909, while the Intel Core i5-10600 averages 2837, a difference of 72 points.

Q: Do both processors occupy the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are listed at the 51st percentile among all CPUs in the database, despite the AMD part's higher average score.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: For the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-1335UE (2907, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Xeon E-2186M (2912, 0.1% delta). For the Intel Core i5-10600, the nearest rivals are the Intel Core i7-6800K (2838, 0% delta) and the Intel Xeon E-2126G (2842, 0.2% delta).

Q: Does the Intel processor have any benchmark win at all?

A: No, the Intel Core i5-10600 records zero wins in the head-to-head comparison. The wins count is 6 for the AMD part and 0 for the Intel part.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 uses the AMD Socket AM4, while the Intel Core i5-10600 uses Intel Socket 1200. The base clocks are 3.20 GHz for the AMD part and 3.30 GHz for the Intel part, and the boost clocks are 3.60 GHz and 4.80 GHz, respectively. The L1 cache is 96 KB per core on the Ryzen versus 64 KB per core on the Core i5, and the L2 cache is 512 KB per core versus 256 KB per core. The L3 cache is 16 MB shared on the AMD part versus 12 MB shared on the Intel part.

The Intel Core i5-10600 lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 does not have a specified bandwidth in the database. The Intel part includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, whereas the AMD part has no integrated graphics listed. The Intel processor supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the AMD part has no PCIe information recorded. The multiplier is unlocked on the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600, but locked on the Intel Core i5-10600. The release dates differ as well: the AMD part launched on 2017-06-28, and the Intel part on 2020-04-29.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is clear. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is built on the Zen architecture, codenamed Summit Ridge, and belongs to the 1000 series. It uses a 14 nm process node from GlobalFoundries, with 4,800 million transistors on a 192 mm² die. The Intel Core i5-10600 uses the Comet Lake architecture, part of the Core 10th Gen family, also on a 14 nm node but fabricated by Intel. The Intel part does not list transistor count or die size in the database.

Both processors feature 6 cores and 12 threads, and both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Neither supports ECC memory. The cache hierarchies differ notably: the AMD part has larger per-core L1 and L2 caches (96 KB and 512 KB) compared to the Intel part (64 KB and 256 KB), and the AMD L3 cache is 16 MB shared versus 12 MB shared on the Intel part. The AMD processor is unlocked for overclocking, while the Intel part is locked. The Intel part includes a memory bandwidth specification of 42.7 GB/s and integrated graphics, neither of which appears for the AMD processor. The AMD part is fabricated by GlobalFoundries, while the Intel part is fabricated by Intel itself.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins in every recorded benchmark category. In multicore workloads, it leads by 2.5% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, with scores of 1013, 4224, and 10058 respectively. In single-core workloads, it leads by 2.2% to 2.5%, with scores of 142, 595, and 1419. The AMD part also holds the higher average benchmark score at 2909 versus 2837. The Intel Core i5-10600, by contrast, records zero wins in the head-to-head data.

The Intel part does possess certain specification advantages that do not translate into benchmark wins. Its boost clock of 4.80 GHz is substantially higher than the AMD part's 3.60 GHz, and its base clock of 3.30 GHz edges out the AMD's 3.20 GHz. The Intel processor also includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, which the AMD part lacks entirely, and lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. These features could matter for specific use cases such as systems without a discrete GPU or memory-sensitive workloads, but the database contains no benchmark results that reflect those advantages.

For rendering and compute tasks captured by the Cinebench suite, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is the clear choice. Its consistent 2.2% to 2.5% lead in both single-core and multicore tests, combined with a higher average score, makes it the better performer in every measured scenario. The Intel Core i5-10600's higher clock speeds and integrated graphics do not appear in any benchmark win, so any use-case split must rely on the recorded data, which favors AMD across the board.