Ryzen 5 1600X vs Ryzen 5 4600U
Ryzen 5 1600X
Ryzen 5 4600U
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1600X
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600X | Ryzen 5 4600U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 1600X | Ryzen 5 4600U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) | ✅ 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 Ryzen 5 1600X and Ryzen 5 4600U
Ryzen 5 1600X
The Ryzen 5 1600X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,014 points. Launch price was $249.
Ryzen 5 4600U
The Ryzen 5 4600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,043 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 5 1600X and Ryzen 5 4600U share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600X versus 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4600U — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Ryzen 5 1600X uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 4600U uses Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 1600X scores 13,014 against the Ryzen 5 4600U's 13,043 — a 0.2% lead for the Ryzen 5 4600U. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 1600X vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4600U.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600X | Ryzen 5 4600U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+71% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total)+100% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) |
| PassMark | 13,014 | 13,043 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 7,100 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,000 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 1600X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 4600U uses FP6 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600X | Ryzen 5 4600U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 1600X) / not specified (Ryzen 5 4600U). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 1600X targets Mainstream Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 1600X rivals Core i5-7600K.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 1600X | Ryzen 5 4600U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Mainstream Desktop | — |
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