AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

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Performance Performance

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AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
As expected, second-gen Ryzen chips are a little better at everything compared to the first generation. I already preferred the Ryzen 5 1600 over the Core i5-8400 with the former seeming like the better all-rounder and I now prefer the 2600X to any of the Coffee Lake Core i5 parts, for the same reasons.
- As reviewed by TechSpot on Apr 2018
6
Cores
12
Threads
3.6 GHz
Base Clock
4.2 GHz
Boost Clock
Socket AM4
Socket
95 W
TDP
No iGPU
Graphics
$109
Price
Release date:Apr 19, 2018Price at Launch:$229
Cores:6Threads:12
Base Clock:3.6 GHzBoost Clock:4.2 GHz
Type:DesktopMultithreading:Yes
L2 Cache:3 MBL3 Cache:16 MB
Box Cooler:YesTDP:95 W
Socket:Socket AM4Memory Support:DDR4-2933
Codename:Pinnacle Ridge (Zen+)Process Size:12 nm
Integrated Graphics:NoNPU:No
PCIe Support:PCIe 3.0, 24 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 2600X pricing

Last 6 months
Price Date
Current $109 Dec 1, 2025
Highest* $145 May 14, 2025
Lowest* $109 Aug 8, 2025
Average $125
* Prices are based on listings from Newegg and other major retailers over the past 12+ months.
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Reviews and Ratings

88

Average Score

Based on 22 reviews

9.6

User Score

Based on 9,347 reviews

Reviewers Liked

  • Great productivity and all-around performance
  • More cores and threads than competing Intel parts
  • Improved gaming frame rates
  • Lots of motherboard choice
  • Great value

Reviewers Didn't Like

  • Overclocked and generational gains are limited for gamers
  • Memory still a bit more problematic than on Intel
  • Significant power consumption
  • Runs hot

When it comes to gaming it's fair to say there's no wrong option here and the Ryzen 5 2600X and Core i5-9400F are evenly matched. The 9400F is at times faster thanks to better game support and lower latencies, but the 2600X is often able to ensure...

By TechSpot on

When we recently updated our Best CPUs feature, we noticed that access to affordable first-gen Ryzen processors remains an attractive option for many. The Ryzen 7 1700 is a standout option in particular as this 8-core/16-thread part is selling for $160,...

By TechSpot on
90

As expected, second-gen Ryzen chips are a little better at everything compared to the first generation. I already preferred the Ryzen 5 1600 over the Core i5-8400 with the former seeming like the better all-rounder and I now prefer the 2600X to any of the Coffee Lake Core i5 parts, for the same reasons.

By TechSpot on

Battlefield V is playable on quad-cores but you can expect frequent frame dips, resulting in less consistent frame rates. For the most part, we've found that the older Core i5-7600K has been hanging in there pretty well with AAA titles released in...

By TechSpot on
85

What do you want to do with your PC?AMD's made decent progress in the space of a year, working on its weakness in single-threaded performance and 1080p gaming while continuing to push its advantage in multi-threaded performance.To recap, here's a look...

By hardwarezone.com.sg on
90

Gaming optimisations are still an issue, but computational power is unquestionable and system value is...

By TopNewReview on
88

Ryzen 5 2600X is the mainstream darling of AMD CPUs. Two fewer cores and a lower price make it an excellent alternative to the Ryzen...

By PC Gamer on
80

AMD's Ryzen 5 2600X is faster than the previous-gen models in nearly every respect. The addition of lower cache and memory latencies, along with more sophisticated multi-core boosts, takes AMD's gaming performance to the next level. The extra...

By Tom's Hardware on
90

The Ryzen 5 2600X isn't quite the all-out victory that the Ryzen 7 2700X is, but the improvements made over its predecessor are significant and worthy of notice. AMD's new mid-range processor also has significantly better multi-core performance over its...

By TechRadar on
90

AMD has stuffed an impressive amount of bang into the Ryzen 7 2700X for the buck, and if the stuff it does well meshes with your workload, you really can't go wrong. The second round of Ryzen looks mighty fine indeed, and I'm happy to call both the Ryzen 7 2700X and Ryzen 5 2600X TR Editor's Choice's.

By TheTechReport on
90

What it really boils down to is your main usage scenarios. For a fixed financial outlay, content creators ought to favour 2nd Generation Ryzen - it's Zen done right - others may see the light-load and lower-res gaming virtues of Intel as winning attributes. Whatever you choose, they will all provide a good, solid platform.

By Hexus on
90

The Ryzen 5 2600X provides an immense value proposition compared to the Intel i5-8600K while outperforming it in many tests. Both price-conscious gamers and creatives alike will find the Ryzen 5 2600X a fantastic option.

By PCPer on
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