CPU
GPU
Core i5-8600K
Ryzen Z2
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 i5-8600K is positioned at rank 501 and the Ryzen Z2 is on rank 115, so the Ryzen Z2 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8600K
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen Z2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8600K | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) / 4 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8600K | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($100) | ✅ 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 i5-8600K and Ryzen Z2
Core i5-8600K
The Core i5-8600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 9 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 10,134 points. Launch price was $257.
Ryzen Z2
The Ryzen Z2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 10,106 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i5-8600K packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen Z2 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen Z2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Core i5-8600K versus 5.1 GHz on the Ryzen Z2 — a 17% clock advantage for the Ryzen Z2 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Core i5-8600K uses the Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen Z2 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8600K scores 10,134 against the Ryzen Z2's 10,106 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-8600K. L3 cache: 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-8600K vs 16 MB on the Ryzen Z2.
| Feature | Core i5-8600K | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 8 / 16+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz | 5.1 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+9% | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB (total) | 16 MB+78% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 8 MB+3100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 4 nm-71% |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake-S (2017−2018) | Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) |
| PassMark | 10,134 | 10,106 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,550 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8600K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen Z2 uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-8600K | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FP7/FP7r2/FP8 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-8600K) / not specified (Ryzen Z2). The Core i5-8600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen Z2 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8600K targets Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-8600K rivals Ryzen 5 2600X.
| Feature | Core i5-8600K | Ryzen Z2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming Desktop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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