Core i5-7600K vs Ryzen 5 3500U
Core i5-7600K
Ryzen 5 3500U
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-7600K is positioned at rank 578 and the Ryzen 5 3500U is on rank 614, so the Core i5-7600K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7600K
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3500U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7600K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($84) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7600K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($84) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-7600K and Ryzen 5 3500U
Core i5-7600K
The Core i5-7600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,813 points. Launch price was $242.
Ryzen 5 3500U
The Ryzen 5 3500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,836 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7600K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Ryzen 5 3500U's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-7600K versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500U — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-7600K (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i5-7600K uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3500U uses Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7600K scores 6,813 against the Ryzen 5 3500U's 6,836 — a 0.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 3500U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 4,143 vs 3,545 (15.6% advantage for the Core i5-7600K). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,100 vs 876, a 22.7% lead for the Core i5-7600K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 3,800 vs 1,898 (66.8% advantage for the Core i5-7600K). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7600K vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3500U.
| Feature | Core i5-7600K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+14% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+81% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 12 nm-14% |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 6,813 | 6,836 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 4,143+17% | 3,545 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,100+26% | 876 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,800+100% | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7600K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3500U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-7600K) vs 12 (Ryzen 5 3500U) — the Core i5-7600K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Z270,H270,B250 (Core i5-7600K) and Mobile (Ryzen 5 3500U).
| Feature | Core i5-7600K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FP5 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i5-7600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7600K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 5 3500U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 630 (Core i5-7600K) and Radeon Vega 8 (Ryzen 5 3500U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7600K targets Gaming/Desktop, Ryzen 5 3500U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3500U rivals Core i5-10210U.
| Feature | Core i5-7600K | Ryzen 5 3500U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 630 | Radeon Vega 8 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Gaming/Desktop | Budget |
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