CPU
GPU
Ryzen 5 4500U
Core i5-9600K
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
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-9600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 4500U | Core i5-9600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) / 7 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 4500U | Core i5-9600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($178) |
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 4500U and Core i5-9600K
Ryzen 5 4500U
The Ryzen 5 4500U 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 6 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 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: 10,692 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-9600K
The Core i5-9600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 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: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 10,645 points. Launch price was $262.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 5 4500U and Core i5-9600K share an identical 6-core/6-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 4500U versus 4.6 GHz on the Core i5-9600K — a 14% clock advantage for the Core i5-9600K (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Ryzen 5 4500U uses the Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) architecture (7 nm), while the Core i5-9600K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 4500U scores 10,692 against the Core i5-9600K's 10,645 — a 0.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 4500U. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 4500U vs 9 MB (total) on the Core i5-9600K.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 4500U | Core i5-9600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 6 | 6 / 6 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.6 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.7 GHz+61% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 9 MB (total)+13% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Renoir-U (Zen 2) (2020−2021) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 10,692 | 10,645 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 4500U uses the FP6 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-9600K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 4500U | Core i5-9600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FP6 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 4500U) / true (Core i5-9600K). The Core i5-9600K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 4500U requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 4500U | Core i5-9600K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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