The Ryzen 5 2600X is about 3% faster than the Ryzen 5 2600 in our estimate.
The Ryzen 5 2600X is about 3% faster than the Ryzen 5 2600 in our estimate.
| Ryzen 5 2600X | Ryzen 5 2600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming index | 34 | 33 |
| Cores / threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Max boost | 4.25 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Power (TDP) | 95 W | 65 W |
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| Release year | 2018 | 2018 |
| Launch price | $229 | $199 |
| Performance per $100 (launch) | 14.8 | 16.6 |
The Ryzen 5 2600X and the Ryzen 5 2600 are within a few percent of each other for gaming. In a game, you will not see the difference.
The Ryzen 5 2600X has 6 cores and 12 threads, and the Ryzen 5 2600 has 6 cores and 12 threads. Core counts are the same, so cache size and clock speed decide the difference. Boost clocks are 4.25 GHz and 3.9 GHz.
Both chips use the AM4 socket, so they fit the same motherboards. You can swap one for the other without changing the board.
Rated power is 95 W for the first and 65 W for the second. That is close enough that cooling needs will be similar.
At launch the Ryzen 5 2600X cost $229 and the Ryzen 5 2600 $199, which gives 14.8 and 16.6 points of gaming performance per $100. Today's prices will differ.
At 1080p the Ryzen 5 2600X can feed a card up to the Radeon RX 7600 XT before it holds the card back by more than 10 percent. The Ryzen 5 2600 reaches the GeForce RTX 4060. Both chips are in the same range for graphics card pairing.
Choose the Ryzen 5 2600X if you want the faster gaming chip and the same or more cores. Choose the Ryzen 5 2600 if you would rather spend the difference on a graphics card, which does more for frame rates in most games.
The Ryzen 5 2600X is about 3% faster than the Ryzen 5 2600 in our estimate.
If your graphics card is already the limit in your games, a faster processor adds little. Use the bottleneck calculator to check your own pairing.
Updated October 3, 2026