AMD Ryzen 9 7950X vs Intel Core i5-6500
78.6Single-core25.6
92.9Multi-core22.9
85.2Gaming21.9
18 spec wins — AMD Ryzen 9 7950X2 spec wins — Intel Core i5-6500
InnoReviews verdict
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X wins this desktop processor face-off, 86.7 to 23.5, pulling ahead mainly in Multi-core (+70) and gaming (+63). Intel Core i5-6500 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 9 7950X
- Stronger Single-core score: 79 vs 26
- Stronger Multi-core score: 93 vs 23
- Stronger gaming score: 85 vs 22
- 1500% higher L2 cache: 16 MB vs 1 MB
- 1016% higher PassMark: 62,500 vs 5,600
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i5-6500
- 62% lower Base TDP: 65 W vs 170 W
- Has Cooler included — the other doesn't
- Lower launch price: $192 vs $699
General
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022 | 2015 |
| Socket | AM5 | LGA1151 |
| Process | 5 nm+64% | 14 nm |
| Base TDP | 170 W | 65 W+62% |
| Max turbo power | 230 W | — |
| Unlocked multiplier | Yes | No |
| Cooler included | No | Yes |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16+300% | 4 |
| Performance cores | 16+300% | 4 |
| Efficiency cores | 0 | 0 |
| Threads | 32+700% | 4 |
| Base clock | 4.5 GHz+41% | 3.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 5.7 GHz+58% | 3.6 GHz |
| L2 cache | 16 MB+1500% | 1 MB |
| L3 cache | 64 MB+967% | 6 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | AMD Radeon Graphics (2 CU RDNA 2) | Intel HD Graphics 530 |
| iGPU clock | 2,200 MHz+110% | 1,050 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | DDR5-5200 | DDR4-2133 / DDR3L-1600 |
| Max memory | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
| Memory channels | 2 | 2 |
Platform
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| PCIe version | 5+67% | 3 |
| CPU PCIe lanes | 28+75% | 16 |
Benchmarks
| Spec | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core i5-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,920+147%Top 11% | 1,180Top 85% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 21,000+589%Top 4% | 3,050Top 92% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 2,020Top 15% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 38,000+986%Top 6% | 3,500Top 95% |
| PassMark | 62,500+1016%Top 4% | 5,600Top 95% |
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