AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5
AMD
94 Overall Score
vs
Intel Core i3 2120 2-core LGA1155
Intel
28 Overall Score
What Buyers Say
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5
88 out of 100 medium confidence 29 reviews
The AMD Ryzen 5 9600X is widely praised for its excellent gaming performance, energy efficiency, and lower thermals compared to previous generations. Users highlight significant improvements in system quietness and cooling, making it a compelling upgrade for new builds or those coming from older platforms. While some note that the performance uplift over the 7000 series may not justify an upgrade for existing AM5 users, the overall sentiment is highly positive, with many recommending it as a great budget-friendly option.
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Lower power draw and thermals
- Quieter system operation
- Good value for budget builds
- Future-proofing with AM5 platform
Cons
- No included cooler
- Requires BIOS update on older boards
- Performance uplift over 7000 series is modest
- No thermal paste included
Gaming performance 8
Power efficiency 6
Thermal management 5
Value for money 5
Upgrade worth 4
Cooler inclusion 3
Intel Core i3 2120 2-core LGA1155
No customer feedback yet
Scores
Efficiency
Budget
Productivity
Gaming
Ai Llm
Server
Specifications
| AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | Intel Core i3 2120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| Brand | AMD | Intel |
| Series | Ryzen 5 | Core i3 |
| Model | 9600X | 2120 |
| Codename | Granite Ridge | Sandy Bridge |
| Class | desktop | desktop |
| Process | 4★ | 32 |
| Cores & Clocks | ||
| Cores | 6★ | 2 |
| P-cores | 6★ | — |
| Threads | 12★ | 4 |
| Base Clock | ||
| Boost Clock | No data | |
| Cache | ||
| L2 Cache | 6★ | 0.5 |
| L3 Cache | 32★ | 3 |
| Performance | ||
| PassMark Multi | No data | |
| PassMark Single | No data | |
| Memory | ||
| Memory Type | DDR5★ | DDR3 |
| Max Speed | ||
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Max Memory | No data | |
| ECC | ✓★ | — |
| Platform & Power | ||
| Socket | AM5 | LGA 1155 |
| PCIe | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| PCIe Lanes | 28★ | 16 |
| TDP | 65 | 65 |
| Max Turbo Power | 88★ | — |
| Unlocked | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Graphics & AI | ||
| Integrated Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
Pros & Cons
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5
- Strong single thread (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong platform (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong efficiency (95th percentile)95th %ile
Intel Core i3 2120 2-core LGA1155
- Strong social proof (76th percentile)
- Below average multi thread (16th percentile)16th %ile
- Below average ai (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average efficiency (22nd percentile)
Pricing
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM50.588score per dollar
vs
Intel Core i3 2120 2-core LGA11550.278score per dollar
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 6-core AM5 offers 2.1x better value for money
Verdict
Winner: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Scores 94 overall, wins 6 of 6 usage categories and 17 of 27 specs.