Intel Core i5-8600K vs AMD Ryzen 9 7900X vs AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

Intel Core i5-8600K

The Intel Core i5-8600K is a high-end desktop processor with six cores based on the Coffee Lake architecture and was announced in September 2017. The processor clocks at between 3.6 and 4.3 GHz and can execute up to six threads simultaneously (no HyperThreading). According to Intel, the CPU is manufactured in an improved 14nm (14nm++) process. The i5-8600K is comparatively easy to overclock thanks to the unlocked multiplier.

Performance

Due to the two additional cores, performance has increased significantly compared to the Core i7-7700K when all cores are in use. Single-core performance has not improved since its Kaby Lake predecessor. As a high-end model, the i5-8600K is suitable for the most demanding applications and games.

Graphics

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 iGPU is basically identical to the previous generation Intel HD Graphics 630. Only some low demanding games are playable with this graphics card (see GPU page linked above).

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 95 watts. Therefore, well-dimensioned cooling systems should easily manage to deal with the created heat. We expect increased efficiency due to the higher performance.

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a fast high-end desktop processor of the Raphael series. It offers 12 cores based on the Zen 4 architecture that supports hyperthreading (24 threads). The cores clock from 4.7 (base) up to 5.7 GHz (single core boost). When all 12 cores are fully loaded, 5.1 GHz is the max. clock speed. The 7900X is the second fastest Ryzen at launch, only bested by the Ryzen 9 7950X with 4 more cores.

The performance of the R9 7900X is clearly better than the old Ryzen 9 5900X thanks to the improved architecture and modern 5nm process. Compared to Intels Raptor Lake Core i9-13700K the single-core performance is slightly lower and the multi-core performance slightly faster. The gaming performance is a bit lower, and is on average only on par with the Core i5-13600K and also lower than the old Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

The Raphael series still uses a chiplet design with two CCD-clusters (each with 8 possible cores) in 5nm and an IO-die (including the memory controller and the Radeon Graphics iGPU) in 6nm.

AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a fast mid-range desktop processor of the Raphael series. It offers 6 cores based on the Zen 4 architecture that supports hyperthreading (12 threads). The cores clock from 4.7 (base) up to 5.7 GHz (single core boost). When all 6 cores are fully loaded, 5.3 GHz is the max. clock speed. 

The performance of the R5 7600X is clearly better than the old Ryzen 5 5600X thanks to the improved architecture and modern 5nm process. The single core performance is very good thanks to the high turbo clock speed (-400 MHz compared to the high end CPUs like the Ryzen 9 7950X). The multi-threaded performance is of course not that competitive due to only 6 cores.

The Raphael series still uses a chiplet design with two CCD-clusters (each with 8 possible cores) in 5nm and an IO-die (including the memory controller and the Radeon Graphics iGPU) in 6nm.

The R5 7600X is rated 105 Watt TDP and Raphael is rather power hungry compared to the 5000 series.