Cores
6
Threads
12
Boost
4.2 GHz
L3 cache
16 MB
TDP
95W
Socket
AM4
Performance breakdown
Gaming8
Productivity8
Single-core8
Multi-core25
Power efficiency8
Lab scores
Performance score8
Cores6
Threads12
Boost clock (GHz)4.2 GHz
Estimated gaming FPS
Paired with a high-end GPU. CPU impact is largest at 1080p.
1080p18 fps
1440p14 fps
4K10 fps
Full specifications
Clocks & cache
- Base clock
- 3.6 GHz
- Boost clock
- 4.2 GHz
- Multiplier
- 36 (unlocked)
- L1 cache
- 576 KB
- L2 cache
- 3 MB
- L3 cache
- 16 MB
Memory & platform
- Memory support
- DDR4
- Max capacity
- 64 GB
- Channels
- 2
- Max bandwidth
- 46.933 GB/s
- Base power (TDP)
- 95W
- PCIe
- PCIe 3.0
- Launch price
- $229
Technologies
- Instruction sets
- SSE4.2, SSE4A, -V, AES, AVX2, FMA3, SHA
- Extensions
- AES-NI, AVX, AMD-V, Precision Boost 2
Community Feedback
What Owners Say
Owners love the great value and solid multi-threaded performance for the price. The main gripe is the stock cooler runs loud and hot under load.
Pros
- Stays cool with stock cooler
- Great value for midrange gaming
- Overclocks easily for free gains
- Handles multitasking without stutter
Cons
- Stock cooler is only adequate
- Needs faster memory for best performance
- Single-core speed lags newer chips
Verdict
Our verdict on the Ryzen 5 2600X
The Ryzen 5 2600X is a solid six-core, twelve-thread Zen+ CPU that still holds up well for gaming and multitasking, though its single-core speed shows its age.
Get it if you’re building a budget gaming rig and want good multi-threaded performance for the price. Skip it if you need the latest features or higher single-core speeds for heavy productivity work.
Buy it if…
- You need a cheap upgrade for an older AM4 motherboard.
- You are building a budget gaming PC and don't need the latest features.
- You want a solid starter CPU for video editing without spending much.
Leaderboard
Its place in the overall top
4.4
388 votes
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