Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen 5 2600E

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.

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen 5 2600E FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen 5 2600E: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Ryzen 5 1600

2017

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (12,261 vs 12,346).
❌Launch MSRP is still $219 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 2600E mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

Ryzen 5 2600E

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 2600E better than Ryzen 5 1600?

Yes. Ryzen 5 2600E is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 2600E is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 2600E is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 5 2600E is still the faster CPU overall, but Ryzen 5 1600 is easier to justify if budget matters more than peak performance. Ryzen 5 2600E comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $219 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 1600 is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (56.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), which is why it can still make sense for tighter-budget builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 2600E makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 6/12. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Ryzen 5 1600 vs Ryzen 5 2600E Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Ryzen 5 1600

The Ryzen 5 1600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,261 points. Launch price was $219.

Ryzen 5 2600E

The Ryzen 5 2600E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 12,346 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Ryzen 5 1600 and Ryzen 5 2600E share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600 versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600E — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 2600E (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1600 uses the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2600E uses Zen+ (2018−2019) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1600 scores 12,261 against the Ryzen 5 2600E's 12,346 — a 0.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 2600E. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Ryzen 5 1600	Ryzen 5 2600E
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz	4 GHz+11%
Base Clock	3.2 GHz+3%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	16 MB (total)	16 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	14 nm	12 nm-14%
Architecture	Zen 2 (2017−2020)	Zen+ (2018−2019)
PassMark	12,261	12,346