AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 vs Intel Core i5-8600K Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data tells a remarkably consistent story: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins every single head-to-head comparison in the database. Across all six Cinebench tests, the AMD part takes the victory, with the Intel Core i5-8600K recording zero wins. The AMD processor's advantages are not marginal either, as every delta percentage lands between 16.4% and 16.8%.

Looking at the workload split, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 dominates in multi-threaded scenarios. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the AMD scores 1013 versus Intel's 867, a 16.8% advantage. That gap persists through Cinebench R20 multicore (4224 versus 3616) and Cinebench R23 multicore (10058 versus 8611). The pattern suggests heavy parallel workloads, such as video rendering, compilation, or scientific computing, clearly favor the AMD chip.

The single-core results, however, are more surprising. The Intel Core i5-8600K has a higher base clock (3.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz) and a higher boost clock (4.30 GHz versus 3.60 GHz), yet the AMD processor still wins every single-core test. In Cinebench R15 single-core, AMD scores 142 against Intel's 122, a 16.4% gap. Cinebench R20 single-core shows 595 versus 510, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 1419 versus 1215. The data indicates that raw clock speed alone does not determine single-core performance, as the AMD architecture extracts more work per clock cycle in these tests.

The Intel processor does have additional benchmark data in the database, specifically Geekbench results. The Core i5-8600K scores 5997 in Geekbench multicore and 1514 in Geekbench single-core. However, the AMD processor has no recorded Geekbench scores, so no direct comparison is possible using the available facts.

Architecture Differences

Both processors share several fundamental characteristics. They each have 6 cores, use DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, lack ECC memory support, and have unlocked multipliers for overclocking. Both are built on a 14 nm process node. The similarities end there, as the architectural implementations diverge considerably.

Threading is the most obvious distinction. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 supports 12 threads through simultaneous multithreading, while the Intel Core i5-8600K has only 6 threads. This doubling of thread count directly explains the AMD processor's sustained multicore advantage across all three Cinebench versions. With two threads per core, the AMD chip can keep more work in flight during parallel rendering tasks.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The AMD processor provides 96 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3 cache. The Intel processor offers 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and only 9 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has larger caches at every level, which likely contributes to its single-core wins despite lower clock speeds. More cache means fewer trips to main memory, and the data suggests this compensates for the frequency deficit.

Manufacturing details also separate the two. AMD relies on GlobalFoundries for its Zen architecture, with the die measuring 192 mm² and containing 4,800 million transistors. Intel fabricates the Coffee Lake design in-house, though the database does not record transistor counts or die size for the Intel part. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform, while Intel uses Socket 1151.

Integrated graphics present another difference. The Intel Core i5-8600K includes UHD Graphics 630, whereas the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has no integrated graphics listed in the database. Additionally, the Intel chip supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the database records no PCIe information for the AMD processor. The AMD part also lacks a listed memory bandwidth figure, but Intel's specification shows 42.7 GB/s.

Release timing and production status add context. The AMD processor launched on June 28, 2017, and remains active in production. The Intel chip launched on October 4, 2017, and is now end-of-life. The AMD part belongs to the 1000 series with Zen architecture, code-named Summit Ridge, while Intel's Coffee Lake represents a later generation of Core i5 design.

The Verdict

The recorded data points decisively toward the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 for anyone prioritizing raw Cinebench performance. Across all six head-to-head tests, the AMD processor wins with a consistent margin of roughly 16.5% to 16.8%. This consistency across different Cinebench versions (R15, R20, and R23) and across both single-core and multicore tests suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

For multi-threaded rendering, the AMD chip's 12 threads versus 6 threads provides a structural advantage that Intel cannot overcome despite its higher clock speeds. The 16.8% multicore gap in every Cinebench version indicates that the thread advantage translates directly into performance. Users running 3D rendering, video encoding, or other parallel compute tasks should prefer the AMD processor based on this data.

The single-core results are more counterintuitive. The Intel processor's boost clock reaches 4.30 GHz, which is 0.70 GHz higher than the AMD's 3.60 GHz boost. Yet the AMD chip wins single-core tests by 16.4% to 16.8%. This indicates that IPC (instructions per clock) differences, likely aided by the larger cache hierarchy, more than compensate for the frequency gap. The AMD processor's 96 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 per core, plus 16 MB shared L3, versus Intel's 64 KB L1, 256 KB L2, and 9 MB L3, suggest the cache advantage is the likely explanation.

The Intel Core i5-8600K does offer integrated graphics, which the AMD processor lacks. For systems requiring a display output without a discrete GPU, the Intel chip has that capability. The Intel part also has a recorded launch MSRP of $257, whereas the AMD processor has no launch MSRP in the database. The Intel chip includes PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, a feature the database does not confirm for the AMD side.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark comparisons in the database?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. The Intel Core i5-8600K records zero wins in the head-to-head comparisons.

Q: How large is the multicore performance gap between the two processors?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 leads by 16.8% in every multicore test. Specifically, Cinebench R15 shows 1013 versus 867, R20 shows 4224 versus 3616, and R23 shows 10058 versus 8611.

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-8600K win in single-core tests because of its higher clock speed?

A: No. Despite having a 3.60 GHz base clock and 4.30 GHz boost clock versus the AMD's 3.20 GHz and 3.60 GHz, the Intel chip loses all three single-core tests. The AMD processor wins R15 single-core 142 to 122, R20 single-core 595 to 510, and R23 single-core 1419 to 1215.

Q: What is the thread count difference between these two CPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has 12 threads across its 6 cores, while the Intel Core i5-8600K has 6 threads across its 6 cores. The AMD processor has double the thread count.

Q: Do both processors support overclocking?

A: Yes, both the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 and the Intel Core i5-8600K have unlocked multipliers, according to the database.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The Intel Core i5-8600K includes UHD Graphics 630. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has no integrated graphics listed in the database.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 is listed as active in production, while the Intel Core i5-8600K is marked as end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench test suite provides the complete head-to-head picture, and the results are unambiguous. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 wins every test, with the smallest margin being 16.4% and the largest being 16.8%.

Starting with Cinebench R15, the multicore test shows the AMD processor scoring 1013 against Intel's 867. That is a 16.8% lead. The single-core test follows a similar pattern, with AMD at 142 and Intel at 122, a 16.4% gap. Even though the Intel chip boosts to 4.30 GHz, it cannot match the AMD architecture in this rendering workload.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the margins hold steady. The multicore result shows AMD at 4224 and Intel at 3616, again a 16.8% difference. The single-core result shows AMD at 595 and Intel at 510, a 16.7% gap. The consistency of these margins across different Cinebench versions suggests the performance relationship is stable and not an artifact of a particular benchmark version.

Cinebench R23 completes the picture with the same story. Multicore scores are 10058 for AMD and 8611 for Intel, a 16.8% advantage. Single-core scores are 1419 for AMD and 1215 for Intel, also 16.8%. The AMD processor maintains its lead even as the Cinebench workload evolves, indicating that the underlying architectural advantages (thread count and cache size) translate across generations of the benchmark.

Looking at the wider benchmark context, the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 has an average benchmark score of 2909 across all tests in the database, placing it in the 51st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Core i5-1335UE (average score 2907, delta 0.1%), the Intel Xeon E-2186M (2912, delta -0.1%), the Intel Xeon E-2414 (2905, delta 0.1%), and the AMD Ryzen Embedded V3C14 (2921, delta -0.4%). These rival deltas are all within 0.4%, placing the AMD chip in a tightly packed performance band.

The Intel Core i5-8600K has an average benchmark score of 2807, also in the 51st percentile. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Atom x7211RE (2811, delta -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-11300H (2792, delta 0.6%), the Intel Xeon E-2324G (2823, delta -0.6%), and the Intel Xeon E5-4627 v3 (2789, delta 0.7%). The Intel chip sits in a slightly lower average performance band than the AMD processor, with a 102-point difference in average score.

Specification Differences

The database records several specification differences between these two processors. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 provides 12 threads, while the Intel Core i5-8600K provides only 6. The AMD base clock is 3.20 GHz compared to Intel's 3.60 GHz, and the AMD boost clock is 3.60 GHz compared to Intel's 4.30 GHz. The AMD processor has a 65 W TDP, while the Intel chip has a 95 W TDP.

Cache configurations differ across all levels. The AMD chip has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 16 MB of shared L3. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 9 MB of shared L3. The AMD processor uses the AMD Socket AM4, while Intel uses Socket 1151. The architecture names differ as well: Zen (Summit Ridge) for AMD and Coffee Lake for Intel.

The Intel Core i5-8600K includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, while the AMD processor has none listed. Intel records PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while AMD has no PCIe data in the database. Memory bandwidth is listed as 42.7 GB/s for Intel, with no figure recorded for AMD. The Intel chip has a launch MSRP of $257; the AMD processor has no launch MSRP listed. The AMD part number is YD160BBBM6IAE, while Intel's is SR3QU. Production status also differs, with AMD active and Intel end-of-life.