Amd ryzen 5 2600x vs core i7 8700k in games and applications

We continue with our comparisons between the newest AMD and Intel processors, this time we bring an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X VS Core i7 8700K showdown, which is especially interesting for being two models with the same number of cores and processing threads, so all differences will be due to the benefits of each architecture.

AMD Ryzen 5 2600X VS Core i7 8700K technical features

As we have already mentioned, we are dealing with two processors with the same number of cores and execution threads, specifically, they are six physical cores and twelve processing threads. In the case of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, the cores operate at frequencies between 3.6 GHz and 4.2 GHz, while the Intel Core i7 8700K has an advantage in this regard by reaching frequencies between 3.7 GHz and 4, 7 GHz. Both models have a 95W TDP, and an amount of L3 cache of 16MB for the AMD chip and 9MB for the Intel chip.

We recommend you read our post on the best processors on the market

Beyond the above, the Coffee Lake architecture by Intel offers less latencies between its internal elements and with the memory subsystem, which should benefit latency-sensitive applications, such as video games. Both processors have the multiplier unlocked for overclocking, so we can further improve their performance.

AMD Ryzen 5 2600X VS Core i7 8700K gaming tests

First of all we look at the performance of both processors in the games that make up our test battery, as always, we have used 1080p, 2K and 4K resolutions to have the most realistic vision possible of what both chips are capable of doing. Without further delay we leave you with the tables that collect the results obtained.

TESTING GAMES 1080P (GeForce GTX 1080Ti)
	Rise of Tomb Raider	Far Cry 5	DOOM 4	Final Fantasy XV	DEUS EX: Mankind
Ryzen 5 2600X	146	106	115	126	112
Core i7 8700K	154	122	151	138	113

GAME TESTS 1440P (GeForce GTX 1080Ti)
	Rise of Tomb Raider	Far Cry 5	DOOM 4	Final Fantasy XV	DEUS EX: Mankind
Ryzen 5 2600X	129	87	111	97	87
Core i7 8700K	132	103	137	100	90

TESTING GAMES 2160P (GeForce GTX 1080Ti)
	Rise of Tomb Raider	Far Cry 5	DOOM 4	Final Fantasy XV	DEUS EX: Mankind
Ryzen 5 2600X	77	56	79	53	48
Core i7 8700K	79	56	79	53	48

AMD Ryzen 5 2600X VS Core i7 8700K app testing

We now turn to see the performance of both processors in very demanding applications, and that are capable of taking advantage of a high number of cores and processing threads. We have also measured the power consumption with both processors, which corresponds to the complete equipment.

TESTING APPLICATIONS
	AIDA 64 READING	AIDA 64 WRITING	CINEBENCH R15	3D MARK FIRE STRIKE	3D MARK TIME SPY	VRMARK	PC MARK 8	LOAD CONSUMPTION (W)
Ryzen 5 2600X	50013	47542	1362	18374	6239	9842	3965	175
Core i7 8700K	51131	51882	1430	22400	7566	11153	4547	163

Final words and conclusion about comparative AMD Ryzen 5 2600X VS Core i7 8700K in games and applications

The Intel architecture has always boasted of being more effective in video games than the AMD architecture, something that is due to its ability to achieve higher operating frequencies, and lower communication latencies between its different internal elements, such as the cores, the cache and also in the access to the RAM memory. Our tests have confirmed this, with an interesting advantage for the Core i7 8700K, especially in the case of Doom. This difference decreases as the resolution increases somewhat logical since the bottleneck, that is, the limiting component of performance, becomes the GPU.

We left the games and focused on the demanding applications with the processor, in this case we can see that the Core i7 8700K is also more powerful, which makes it clear that it is a processor with a higher gross performance, somewhat logical to have frequencies of higher performance and the same number of cores. Intel has put the batteries and has taken a great leap in this regard compared to the Core i7 7700K of the previous generation, which was better than the Ryzen 5 in games but inferior in very demanding applications with the processor, the pace of the Four cores to six cores has been a success on the part of Intel, which puts its processors above AMD's Ryzen 5 in everything.

As a final conclusion we can say that the Core i7 8700K is a better processor, although this does not mean that the Ryzen 5 2600X is bad, since the difference between the two is quite small beyond an isolated case in games. The Intel processor has an approximate price of 320 euros, while the AMD processor can be found for about 230 euros, this makes the relationship between price and performance is better in the case of AMD.

Both processors are a great option. Which one would you choose?