AMD Ryzen 5 3600X vs Intel Core i7-8700K
36.5Single-core37.3
37.4Multi-core34.7
60.3Gamingspec-based38.5
13 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 5 3600X2 spec wins — Intel Core i7-8700K
InnoReviews verdict
AMD Ryzen 5 3600X wins this desktop processor face-off, 42.8 to 36.4, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+3). Intel Core i7-8700K still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
- 167% higher L3 cache: 32 MB vs 12 MB
- 100% higher L2 cache: 3 MB vs 2 MB
- 100% higher Max memory: 128 GB vs 64 GB
- 50% lower process: 7 nm vs 14 nm
- 50% higher CPU PCIe lanes: 24 vs 16
- Lower launch price: $249 vs $359
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i7-8700K
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
General
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-8700K |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019 | 2017 |
| Socket | AM4 | LGA1151-v2 |
| Process | 7 nm+50% | 14 nm |
| Base TDP | 95 W | 95 W |
| Max turbo power | 128 W | — |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | Yes |
| Cooler included | Yes | No |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-8700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 6 | 6 |
| Performance cores | 6 | 6 |
| Efficiency cores | 0 | 0 |
| Threads | 12 | 12 |
| Base clock | 3.8 GHz+3% | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.7 GHz+7% |
| L2 cache | 3 MB+100% | 2 MB |
| L3 cache | 32 MB+167% | 12 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-8700K |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | — | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,200 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-8700K |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR4-3200 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max memory | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
Platform
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-8700K |
|---|---|---|
| PCIe version | 4+33% | 3 |
| CPU PCIe lanes | 24+50% | 16 |
Benchmarks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X | Intel Core i7-8700K |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,490Bottom 27% | 1,560+5%Bottom 33% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 7,200+6%Bottom 39% | 6,800Bottom 35% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,290+2%Bottom 32% | 1,270Bottom 29% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 9,700+5%Bottom 34% | 9,200Bottom 32% |
| PassMark | 18,400+32%Bottom 32% | 13,900Bottom 23% |
Related comparisons
AMD Ryzen 5 3600Xvs AMD Ryzen 5 5600GVSAMD Ryzen 5 3600Xvs Intel Core i7-10700KVSAMD Ryzen 5 3600Xvs Intel Core i9-9900KVSAMD Ryzen 5 3600Xvs Intel Core i5-11600KVSIntel Core i7-8700Kvs Intel Core i5-10600KVSIntel Core i7-8700Kvs AMD Ryzen 7 2700XVSIntel Core i7-8700Kvs Intel Core i5-11400VSIntel Core i7-8700Kvs Intel Core i5-11400FVS