i5-6600 vs Ryzen 9 3900

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Aggregate performance score

Ryzen 9 3900
2019
12 cores / 24 threads, 65 Watt
19.34
+408%
Core i5-6600
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.81

Ryzen 9 3900 outperforms Core i5-6600 by a whopping 408% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking3001476
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation20.750.82
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesAMD Matisse (Ryzen 3000 Desktop)Intel Core i5
Power efficiency28.1610.30
Architecture codenameMatisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020)Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date24 September 2019 (5 years ago)1 July 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$499$224

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Ryzen 9 3900 has 2430% better value for money than i5-6600.

Detailed specifications

Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores12 (Dodeca-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads244
Base clock speed3.1 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4.3 GHz3.9 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rateno data4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data33
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache512 KB (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache64 MB6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography7 nm, 12 nm14 nm
Die size2x 74 mm2177 mm2
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data66 °C
Number of transistors7,600 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketAM4FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions86x MMX(+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, SSE4A,-64, AMD-V, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA, Precision Boost 2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)no data+
Turbo Boost Technologyno data2.0
Hyper-Threading Technologyno data-
TSX-+
Idle Statesno data+
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Precision Boost 2+no data

Security technologies

Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXTno data+
EDBno data+
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-dno data+
VT-xno data+
EPTno data+

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4-3200DDR4
Maximum memory size128 GB64 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth51.196 GB/s34.134 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardN/AIntel HD Graphics 530
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.15 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3
eDPno data+
DisplayPort-+
HDMI-+
DVIno data+

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAno dataN/A

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600.

PCIe version4.03.0
PCI Express lanes2416

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

Ryzen 9 3900 19.34
+408%
i5-6600 3.81

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Ryzen 9 3900 30722
+407%
i5-6600 6057

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Ryzen 9 3900 1678
+29.5%
i5-6600 1296

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Ryzen 9 3900 9543
+167%
i5-6600 3569

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 19.34 3.81
Recency 24 September 2019 1 July 2015
Physical cores 12 4
Threads 24 4
Chip lithography 7 nm 14 nm

Ryzen 9 3900 has a 407.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, 200% more physical cores and 500% more threads, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.

The Ryzen 9 3900 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6600 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Ryzen 9 3900 and Core i5-6600, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Ryzen 9 3900
Ryzen 9 3900
Intel Core i5-6600
Core i5-6600

Similar processor comparisons

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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