The Ryzen 5 2600X is about 3% faster than the Ryzen 7 1800X in our estimate.
The Ryzen 5 2600X is about 3% faster than the Ryzen 7 1800X in our estimate.
| Ryzen 5 2600X | Ryzen 7 1800X | |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming index | 34 | 33 |
| Cores / threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 16 |
| Max boost | 4.25 GHz | 4 GHz |
| Power (TDP) | 95 W | 95 W |
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| Release year | 2018 | 2017 |
| Launch price | $229 | $499 |
| Performance per $100 (launch) | 14.8 | 6.6 |
The Ryzen 5 2600X and the Ryzen 7 1800X 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 7 1800X has 8 cores and 16 threads. The extra cores of the Ryzen 7 1800X help with video editing, streaming while you play and heavy multitasking more than with the game itself. Boost clocks are 4.25 GHz and 4 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 95 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 7 1800X $499, which gives 14.8 and 6.6 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 7 1800X 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. Choose the Ryzen 7 1800X 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 7 1800X 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