Core i7-930 vs Ryzen 5 3600

The Core i7-930 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.06 GHz on the Core i7-930 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 31.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-930 uses the Bloomfield (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-930 scores 2,993 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 142.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-930 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

The Core i7-930 uses the LGA1366 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i7-930 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 24 GB — 136.8% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 3 (Core i7-930) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600). PCIe lanes: 36 (Core i7-930) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Core i7-930 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-930) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Core i7-930 targets Desktop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

The Core i7-930 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($20 vs $80), the Core i7-930 is $60 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-930 delivers 149.7 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 38.5% better value option.