AMD Ryzen 5 1600X

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Performance Performance

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AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
The six-core 1600X is an exceptional buy and a fantastic alternative to Intel's Core i5-7600K, which offers only four cores for the same price. Granted, they're exceptionally good cores that can be pushed quite far and may even look to be the better choice right now in most games.
- As reviewed by TechSpot on Apr 2017
6
Cores
12
Threads
3.6 GHz
Base Clock
4 GHz
Boost Clock
Socket AM4
Socket
95 W
TDP
No iGPU
Graphics
$97
Price
Release date:Apr 11, 2017Price at Launch:$249
Cores:6Threads:12
Base Clock:3.6 GHzBoost Clock:4 GHz
Type:DesktopMultithreading:Yes
L2 Cache:3 MBL3 Cache:16 MB
Box Cooler:NoTDP:95 W
Socket:Socket AM4Memory Support:DDR4-2666
Codename:Summit Ridge (Zen)Process Size:14 nm
Integrated Graphics:NoNPU:No
PCIe Support:PCIe 3.0, 16 Lanes
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
A newer model is available:
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Performance Benchmarks

All benchmark data reflects aggregated results from dozens of tests conducted in TechSpot’s labs and compiled from our full library of CPU reviews. Single-core productivity scores are based primarily on Cinebench and Adobe Photoshop workloads. Multi-core results draw from Cinebench, Blender, Corona Benchmark, 7-Zip, Adobe Premiere Pro, and shader compilation tests. CPU gaming benchmarks are all 1080p runs (explainer) as published on TechSpot.

Single-Core Productivity

Multi-Core Productivity

Gaming Performance

Price History

AMD Ryzen 5 1600X pricing

Last 6 months
Price Date
Current $97 Dec 15, 2025
Highest* $313 Sep 22, 2025
Lowest* $97 Sep 27, 2025
Average $182
* Prices are based on listings from Newegg and other major retailers over the past 12+ months.
TechSpot is supported by its audience. We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Learn more here.

Reviews and Ratings

89

Average Score

Based on 36 reviews

8.8

User Score

Based on 1,553 reviews

Reviewers Liked

  • Exceptional value compared to their Intel Core i5 counterparts
  • Strength in heavily threaded workloads
  • Impressive multi-core performance
  • Up To 6-Cores / 12-Threads
  • Ideal for 1080P gaming systems
  • Latest AM4 platform

Reviewers Didn't Like

  • Power efficiency goes right out the window once you start overclocking
  • Performance Anomalies In A Few Benchmarks
  • Gaming optimizations still needed
  • Falls behind in rendering tasks

Wrapping up with the 720p data first, these low-res results are important for a few reasons, though for some they can be a bit misleading. They're important because they show us the true difference between CPUs in these games. With any speed limits...

By TechSpot on
95

The six-core 1600X is an exceptional buy and a fantastic alternative to Intel's Core i5-7600K, which offers only four cores for the same price. Granted, they're exceptionally good cores that can be pushed quite far and may even look to be the better choice right now in most games.

By TechSpot on

For such a small six-game sample, those benchmarks showed quite a few interesting results. Perhaps the most exciting conclusion we can draw is that upcoming six-core Ryzen processors should perform roughly on par with eight-core models when playing...

By TechSpot on
80

The six-core design makes this an appealing choice in some circumstances, but this is not for gamers (yet).Rating 4/58 Total ScoreAMD Ryzen 5 1600X ReviewThe six-core design makes this an appealing choice in some circumstances, but this is not for...

By TopNewReview on
90

AMD has delivered a solid CPU for those whose budgets can't stretch enough to accommodate a Ryzen 7, but who still want the benefits of lots of cores and threads. It sells for around Rs. 18,999 which is higher than its official MRP (Rs. 18,199) due to...

By Gadgets360 on
90

Put simply the Ryzen 5 1600X is a far more significant processor than any of the octa-core Ryzen 7 CPUs, and for us gamers arguably the most significant chip AMD have ever made.This is where AMD have got a far more balanced competitor for Intel's chips,...

By pcgamesn.com on
98

Stock speeds for CPU + 2933MHz @1.4V DRAM @15-15-15-36Overclocked to 4GHz @ 1.425V (1.1V SOC) + 2933MHz @1.4V DRAM @15-15-15-36Can the AMD Ryzen 5 1600X defeat the Intel i5 7600K? I think so. This budget 6 core CPU is a real game changer for those low...

By techteamgb.co.uk on
80

In a nutshell, Ryzen 5's main advantage over Intel's Core i5 range is the higher number of cores and threads it offers while sharing the same price bracket. That's not unlike what AMD offers with its Ryzen 7 CPUs, all of which are 8-core/16-thread...

By hardwarezone.com.sg on
85

AMD clearly wasn't joking when they said that Ryzen 5 would cater to the performance and gaming crowd. At RM1,199 (Which is effectively around the same price range as Intel's Core i5-7600K), it's surprising to see it perform nearly on par with not just...

By hardwarezone.com.my on
99

The bottom line is that the Ryzen 5 1600X and 1500X destroyed Intel's Core i5-7600K and i5-7500 processors in pretty much all of the testing that I performed. The Ryzen 5 series gives you the option of getting a 6C/12T processor while the Core i5 lineup...

By relaxedtech.com on
90

Although a little more expensive than the i5-7600K, it's easy to see that the Ryzen 5 1600X is better value for demanding tasks such as 3D- and video rendering, video editing and compressing and decompressing files. The Intel chip still has an advantage...

By techadvisor.co.uk on
100

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600X isn't a just an affordable chip for gamers and media creators, it an incredible package that puts multi-core computing on the mainstream...

By TechRadar on
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