Core i5-10500 vs Ryzen 5 2600

CPU

GPU

Core i5-10500

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.5 GHz2020

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Ryzen 5 2600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2018

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-10500

6 / 12

13,067

0.0%

13,145

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-10500

2020

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 2600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,067 vs 13,145).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌
0.5% HIGHER MSRP
$200 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 2600.

Ryzen 5 2600

2018

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-10500.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-10500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-10500

2020

Ryzen 5 2600

2018

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 630, while Ryzen 5 2600 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅+0.6% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i5-10500.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (13,067 vs 13,145).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌
0.5% HIGHER MSRP
$200 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 2600.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-10500 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 2600 better than Core i5-10500?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i5-10500 is ahead with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 2600 pulls ahead with 0.6% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 2600 also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 2600 is the better fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Ryzen 5 2600 is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 5 2600 is $1 cheaper on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and it gives you 0.6% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core i5-10500 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 3 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 1.1% better value on MSRP (66.1 vs 65.3 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-10500 can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-10500 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-10500 Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 2600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-10500	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	193 FPS	183 FPS
medium	154 FPS	157 FPS
high	125 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	103 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	153 FPS	152 FPS
medium	121 FPS	125 FPS
high	99 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	86 FPS	68 FPS
medium	73 FPS	60 FPS
high	58 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i5-10500 Open Ryzen 5 2600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-10500	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	327 FPS	263 FPS
medium	327 FPS	227 FPS
high	323 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	281 FPS	162 FPS
1440p
low	327 FPS	236 FPS
medium	325 FPS	206 FPS
high	296 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	257 FPS	151 FPS
4K
low	327 FPS	186 FPS
medium	274 FPS	165 FPS
high	251 FPS	146 FPS
ultra	211 FPS	111 FPS

Open Core i5-10500 Open Ryzen 5 2600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-10500	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	327 FPS	329 FPS
medium	327 FPS	329 FPS
high	327 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	327 FPS	329 FPS
medium	327 FPS	329 FPS
high	327 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	268 FPS
4K
low	327 FPS	304 FPS
medium	327 FPS	248 FPS
high	303 FPS	215 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	167 FPS

Open Core i5-10500 Open Ryzen 5 2600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-10500	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	327 FPS	329 FPS
medium	327 FPS	329 FPS
high	327 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	327 FPS	329 FPS
medium	327 FPS	329 FPS
high	327 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	327 FPS	329 FPS
medium	327 FPS	329 FPS
high	327 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	327 FPS	310 FPS

Open Core i5-10500 Open Ryzen 5 2600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-10500 and Ryzen 5 2600

Core i5-10500

The Core i5-10500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 April 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 13,067 points. Launch price was $149.

Ryzen 5 2600

The Ryzen 5 2600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,145 points. Launch price was $199.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-10500 and Ryzen 5 2600 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i5-10500 versus 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600 — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-10500 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-10500 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2600 uses Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-10500 scores 13,067 against the Ryzen 5 2600's 13,145 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 5 2600. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-10500 vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2600.

Feature	Core i5-10500	Ryzen 5 2600
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz+15%	3.9 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	3.4 GHz+10%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	3 MB+1100%
Process	14 nm	12 nm-14%
Architecture	Comet Lake (2020−2025)	Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018)
PassMark	13,067	13,145
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	6,344
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,163
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	4,893

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-10500 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 2600 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. The Core i5-10500 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-10500) vs 20 (Ryzen 5 2600) — the Ryzen 5 2600 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Core i5-10500	Ryzen 5 2600
Socket	LGA1200	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	16	20+25%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 2600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-10500) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 2600). The Core i5-10500 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Ryzen 5 2600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-10500 targets Desktop, Ryzen 5 2600 targets General Productivity. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 2600 rivals Core i5-9400.

Feature	Core i5-10500	Ryzen 5 2600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	Yes
Target Use	Desktop	General Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-10500 launched at $200 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 2600 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($200 vs $199), the Ryzen 5 2600 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-10500 delivers 65.3 pts/$ vs 66.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 2600 — making the Ryzen 5 2600 the 1.1% better value option.