AMD RYZEN 5 1600 6-Core 3.2GHz Turbo Core Speed 3.6GHz Processor

CONS

• Still lags Core i7-8700K in single-threaded workloads, including some gaming scenarios.

Back when AMD launched their Ryzen 5 processors earlier this year it was the first time we saw a 6-core desktop processor in the mid-range mainstream line. At this time Intel was still on quad-core parts on their Core i7 and Core i5 SKUs. Of course just recently Intel launched their 8th Generation Core desktop processors, which do included both Core i5 and Core i7 6-core SKUs. So it seems the playing field has leveled a bit, with Intel basically being forced to add more cores to their desktop processors to catch up with AMD.

Special thanks to AMD for providing us with the Ryzen 5 1600 Processor to review.

Specifications
# of CPU Cores: 6
# of Threads: 12
Base Clock Speed: 3.2GHz
Max Turbo Core Speed: 3.6GHz
Total

L1 Cache: 576KB
L2 Cache: 3MB
L3 Cache: 16MB
Unlocked: Yes
CMOS: 14nm
Package: AM4
PCI Express Version: PCIe 3.0
Thermal Solution: Wraith Spire (No LED)
Default TDP / TDP: 65W
Max Temps: 95°C

Packaging & Overview
We received a retail sample of the Ryzen 5 1600 from AMD, so they is what you would get at the store or if you ordered from an online retailer. It comes in a nice retail box with the Ryzen logo on the front and a small “5” in the bottom corner to let us know that it is part of the Ryzen 5 series.