AMD
Ryzen 5 2600
Zen+ · 6C/12T · 65 W · AM4
64
/ 100
From $199
VS
Ryzen 5 2600 wins by 2
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
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
| 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.