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Ryzen 5 2600 — Zen+ · 6C/12T · 65 W · AM4
AMD

Ryzen 5 2600

Zen+ · 6C/12T · 65 W · AM4

64
/ 100
From $199
VS
Ryzen 5 2600 wins by 2
Core i7-8700K — Coffee Lake · 6C/12T · 95 W · LGA1151
Intel

Core i7-8700K

Coffee Lake · 6C/12T · 95 W · LGA1151

62
/ 100
From $359
Specdex verdict

Ryzen 5 2600 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Ryzen 5 2600 lands at 64 and Core i7-8700K at 62. That puts Ryzen 5 2600 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Ryzen 5 2600 if…

  • ✓AM4/AM5 longevity
  • ✓Multi-thread value
  • ✓Unlocked multipliers

Pick Core i7-8700K if…

  • ✓Strong per-core performance
  • ✓Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
  • ✓Wide platform availability
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Gaming

Tie

Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Creators & productivity

Ryzen 5 2600

Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count

Ryzen 5 2600 leads on multi (64 vs 62).

Power efficiency

Ryzen 5 2600

Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost

Ryzen 5 2600 leads on efficiency (80 vs 72).

Value for money

Ryzen 5 2600

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Ryzen 5 2600 more score per dollar ($199 vs $359).

Ryzen 5 2600 64
vs
62 Core i7-8700K

Score breakdown

Ryzen 5 2600
64
single 60
multi 64
gaming 62
efficiency 80
Core i7-8700K
62
single 64
multi 62
gaming 61
efficiency 72

Specs side-by-side

Ryzen 5 2600 versus Core i7-8700K — full spec comparison
Spec Ryzen 5 2600 Core i7-8700K
Architecture
Zen+
Coffee Lake
Cores
6
6
Threads
12
12
TDP
65 W
95 W
Socket
AM4
LGA1151
Release year
2018
2017

Ryzen 5 2600

Pros
  • +AM4/AM5 longevity
  • +Multi-thread value
  • +Unlocked multipliers
Cons
  • −DDR5 required on AM5
  • −iGPU optional
  • −X3D variants better for gaming

Core i7-8700K

Pros
  • +Strong per-core performance
  • +Hybrid P/E cores (12th gen+)
  • +Wide platform availability
Cons
  • −Power draw on top SKUs
  • −Frequent socket changes
  • −Arrow Lake gaming regressions

FAQ: Ryzen 5 2600 vs Core i7-8700K

Which is better, Ryzen 5 2600 or Core i7-8700K? +

Ryzen 5 2600 scores 64 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Ryzen 5 2600 worth the price? +

At $199, Ryzen 5 2600 delivers a Specdex score of 64 — strongest in efficiency.

Is Core i7-8700K worth the price? +

At $359, Core i7-8700K delivers a Specdex score of 62 — strongest in efficiency.

Does Ryzen 5 2600 or Core i7-8700K last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for creator and productivity work, Ryzen 5 2600 or Core i7-8700K? +

Ryzen 5 2600 — leads on multi (64 vs 62). Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count.

Which is better for power efficiency, Ryzen 5 2600 or Core i7-8700K? +

Ryzen 5 2600 — leads on efficiency (80 vs 72). Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost.