Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k Best Gaming CPU in 2024

In the past, the Intel CPU was the undisputed leader in the processor industry. But that’s not the case anymore. The AMD Ryzen brand of processors has changed the whole playing field. And it has got to a point where we are seeing parity between the two brands.

With the release of the new Ryzen series, we are now talking about one of the best CPUs both in power, performance, and overall features.

But the Intel series is not sitting down to get rolled over. As AMD is taking the bull by the horns, Intel has raised its game with more cores and more threads for its new series.

Our interest here is on two of the best models each of these brands have – AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel i5 9600k.

Frequently asked questions

Comparing Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU

Our focus here is to differentiate between both CPU and find out which one gives better value for money.  Although from different manufacturers, both of these CPUs come with similar features. But one will give you better value for money. Let’s find out which one.

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Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU – Features

Ryzen 5 3600 comes with 12 threads and 6 cores, while Intel’s i5-9600k has 6 cores too but only has 6 threads. I5-9600k is built on the 14nm++ coffee lake architecture.

In terms of boost and base clock speeds, Ryzen 5 3600 is a bit better than i5-9600k. It features a boost and base clock of 4.4GHz and 3.8GHz compared to the i5-9600k clock speeds of 4.3GHz and 3.7 GHz respectively. However, you should understand that clock speed comparison is not too important when comparing two different processors with different architectures like Ryzen 5 3600 and i5 9600k.

While the Ryzen 5 3600 runs on the latest PCI 4.0 standard, its i5 9600k counterpart runs on the PCIe 3,0, which is the previous generation. Again, this feature will be important if you want to run the new PCIe on a new PC built – which presently only X570 chipset and Ryzen 3000 processors support.

In terms of power consumption, both processors run at the rate of 95 W, which means they consume lesser power. So, when it comes to power consumption, there is little difference between the two.

However, one important feature the i5 9600k has that is lacking in Ryzen 5 3600 is the hyperthreading feature. This technology is only found in Intel processors.

On the other hand, Ryzen has a similar technology, which is called SMT. Even with the new technology, Intel’s hyperthreading feature is still a revolutionary technology.

So, if you are looking for a product with good hyperthreading capabilities, we will advise you to look no further than this i5 9600k or any other Intel processor.

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Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU – performance

One of the best ways to differentiate between two processors is to look at their benchmarks. When you test them in games, you will understand which one is better than the other.

Ciebench R20 is a fantastic benchmark that can be used to compare the two CPUs. When we used the benchmark to compare, we realized that Ryzen 5 3600 has slightly better performance with 472 points against 469 points for i5 9600k.

For 1440p gaming, the two processors perform similarly. That means if you are likely going to play mostly 1440p games, and you want to choose either of these CPUs, their performance will be very similar.

If there should be a winner, then the i5 9600k will take that position for 1440p. But for the same level of performance, Ryzen 5 3600 is a bit more power-efficient than its i5 9600k counterpart.

Again, for multi-core applications and tasks, we find the Ryzen 5 3600 more versatile. It makes Ryzen 5 3600 perfect not just for gaming but for workforce applications, video editing, as well as streaming.

But there are other instances that i5 9600k can outperform Ryzen 5 3600, even with multi-core applications. It all depends on the type of hardware that accompanies the processor.

For instance, if there is a good air cooler that supports the i5 9600k, and the system overclocks the processor past 5GHz, it will outperform Ryzen 5 3600.

If you don’t have these system features, then the Ryzen 5 3600 stays a step ahead of i5 9600k.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU – upgradability

Most computer hardware manufacturers understand the importance of manufacturing products that can be easily upgraded by the user. If a processor is not upgradable, it’s going to lose a lot of value. After all, you wouldn’t want to get a CPU that won’t allow you to raise your game to the next level.

In terms of upgradability, the Ryzen 5 3600 CPU sits on the AM4 platform, which can be upgraded to the next generation Ryzen 9 3950X CPU with 32 threads and 16 cores. It will also be compatible with the X470, B450, and B350 motherboards. If you are buying Ryzen 5 3600, you will have enough room to upgrade to a higher-performing system.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about i5 9600k. Unlike the AM4 platform, the Coffee Lake platform of Intel cannot be upgradable. That’s because the 1151V2 outdated socket will not be included in the 10nm Sunny Cove chips. So, if you’re looking for a CPU you can easily upgrade in the future, the Ryzen 5 3600 will be the right one for you compared to i5 9600k.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU – Productivity

If you throw any editing or 3D design task at Ryzen 5 3600, what you will get will be as close as what a PC running on i7-8700k will give you. No matter the type of application, be sure that Ryzen 5 3600 will take on the application without any lag in performance. The 6 cores and 12 threads are enough for all types of applications and games, which slightly outperforms i5 9600k.

When it comes to rendering Vegas Pro, Revit, After Effects, Premier Pro, AutoCAD, or Lumion Pro, Ryzen 5 3600 is 15% faster than i5 9600k. In essence, if you are expecting huge workloads on your system, choosing the Ryzen 5 3600 over i5 9600k will be the smart choice.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU – Overclocking

Okay, we’ve been hammering on the performance levels of Ryzen 5 3600 over i5 9600k, but there are some areas where i5 9600kcomes out top. The overclocking feature is one of those areas.

The 14nm++ manufacturing technology from Intel takes your clock rate a step ahead to around 5.1 GHz frequency rate. Of course, you have to get a decent cooler to get to this level.

However, the best Ryzen 5 3600 can give you is 4.3 GHz across all its cores. So, while Ryzen 5 3600 was bossing the comparison table in different capacities, i5 9600k is the king here.

However, you can improve performance limits for Ryzen 5 3600 when you set XMP profiles to the top designated speed and adjust memory timings. Even with that, i5 9600k still stands ahead because of the 14nm++ technology. So, if overclocking is an important feature to consider when choosing between these two CPUs, surely i5 9600k tales the lead.

Ryzen 5 3600 VS Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU – Streaming

When we put i5 9600k side-by-side with Ryzen 5 3600 in terms of 1080p streaming, the former had a big bottleneck effect due to Intel’s disabled hyperthreading feature.

However, the Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) technology of AMD enables the Ryzen 5 3600 to have fluid streaming. One of the most important functions of the SMT is to hold many tasks simultaneously with fast performance. When comparing the two CPU in terms of streaming, our money is on Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600 vs Intel i5 9600k gaming CPU – Gaming performance

In terms of gaming performance, which is what matters for gamers, both CPUs are not far off between each other. However, if you are a casual gamer, you will notice about a 4% improvement in gaming performance for i5 9600k when playing on 1080p resolution.  This is because of Intel’s superior 14nm technology

However, if you are going to need more threads for the latest games like World of Warcraft or Assassin’s Creed, you will be better off using Ryzen 5 3600.

For gaming performance, your choice between the two CPUs will depend on the type of games you want to play and which features are more important to you.