Core i5-11400T vs Ryzen 5 2600

CPU

GPU

Core i5-11400T

6 Cores12 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2021

Popular choices:

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Ryzen 5 2600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2018

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-11400T

6 / 12

13,034

0.0%

13,145

+0.9%

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 i5-11400T

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $17 less on MSRP ($182 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 8.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.6 vs 66.1 PassMark/$ ($182 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 730, while Ryzen 5 2600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 2600 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (3,891 vs 6,344).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Ryzen 5 2600

2018

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.1 vs 71.6 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11400T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-11400T

2021

Ryzen 5 2600

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $17 less on MSRP ($182 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 8.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 71.6 vs 66.1 PassMark/$ ($182 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD 730, while Ryzen 5 2600 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +12.3% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 2600 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (3,891 vs 6,344).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 66.1 vs 71.6 PassMark/$ ($199 MSRP vs $182 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-11400T can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 2600 better than Core i5-11400T?

Yes. Ryzen 5 2600 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 12.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 63% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, and 0.9% higher PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 2600 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 12.3% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

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 63% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, 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 still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-11400T makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Ryzen 5 2600 is 9.3% more expensive on MSRP at $199 MSRP versus $182 MSRP, and it gives you a 12.3% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-11400T is also 8.4% better value on MSRP (71.6 vs 66.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible LGA1200 + DDR4 setup, Core i5-11400T 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 i5-11400T is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 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 i5-11400T Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 2600 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-11400T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	167 FPS	183 FPS
medium	144 FPS	157 FPS
high	116 FPS	127 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	140 FPS	152 FPS
medium	119 FPS	125 FPS
high	94 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	68 FPS
medium	60 FPS	60 FPS
high	47 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	38 FPS

Open Core i5-11400T Open Ryzen 5 2600

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-11400T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	124 FPS	263 FPS
medium	109 FPS	227 FPS
high	101 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	162 FPS
1440p
low	110 FPS	236 FPS
medium	96 FPS	206 FPS
high	90 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	151 FPS
4K
low	96 FPS	186 FPS
medium	86 FPS	165 FPS
high	78 FPS	146 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	111 FPS

Open Core i5-11400T Open Ryzen 5 2600

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-11400T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	326 FPS	329 FPS
medium	326 FPS	329 FPS
high	326 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	317 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	329 FPS
medium	326 FPS	329 FPS
high	319 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	284 FPS	268 FPS
4K
low	314 FPS	304 FPS
medium	269 FPS	248 FPS
high	235 FPS	215 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	167 FPS

Open Core i5-11400T Open Ryzen 5 2600

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-11400T	Ryzen 5 2600
1080p
low	326 FPS	329 FPS
medium	326 FPS	329 FPS
high	326 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	329 FPS
1440p
low	326 FPS	329 FPS
medium	326 FPS	329 FPS
high	326 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	326 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	326 FPS	329 FPS
medium	326 FPS	329 FPS
high	326 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	314 FPS	310 FPS

Open Core i5-11400T Open Ryzen 5 2600

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-11400T and Ryzen 5 2600

Core i5-11400T

The Core i5-11400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,034 points. Launch price was $182.

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 i5-11400T and Ryzen 5 2600 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-11400T versus 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600 — a 5.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 2600 (base: 1.3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Core i5-11400T uses the Rocket Lake (2021) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2600 uses Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-11400T scores 13,034 against the Ryzen 5 2600's 13,145 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 2600. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 3,891 vs 6,344 (47.9% advantage for the Ryzen 5 2600). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,767 vs 1,163, a 41.2% lead for the Core i5-11400T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 6,179 vs 4,893 (23.2% advantage for the Core i5-11400T). L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i5-11400T vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2600.

Feature	Core i5-11400T	Ryzen 5 2600
Cores / Threads	6 / 12	6 / 12
Boost Clock	3.7 GHz	3.9 GHz+5%
Base Clock	1.3 GHz	3.4 GHz+162%
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	3 MB+1100%
Process	14 nm	12 nm-14%
Architecture	Rocket Lake (2021)	Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018)
PassMark	13,034	13,145
Cinebench R23 Multi	3,891	6,344+63%
Geekbench 6 Single	1,767+52%	1,163
Geekbench 6 Multi	6,179+26%	4,893

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-11400T uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 2600 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. The Core i5-11400T 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. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H510,B560,Z590,H470,Z490 (Core i5-11400T) and AMD B450,AMD X470,AMD B350,AMD X370 (Ryzen 5 2600).

Feature	Core i5-11400T	Ryzen 5 2600
Socket	LGA1200	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0+33%	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR4-2933
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+100%	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 2600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i5-11400T supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-11400T) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 2600). The Core i5-11400T includes integrated graphics (UHD 730), while the Ryzen 5 2600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-11400T targets Productivity, Ryzen 5 2600 targets General Productivity. Direct competitor: Core i5-11400T rivals Core i5-11400; Ryzen 5 2600 rivals Core i5-9400.

Feature	Core i5-11400T	Ryzen 5 2600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD 730	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	Yes	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	Yes
Target Use	Productivity	General Productivity

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-11400T launched at $182 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 2600 debuted at $199. On MSRP ($182 vs $199), the Core i5-11400T is $17 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-11400T delivers 71.6 pts/$ vs 66.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 2600 — making the Core i5-11400T the 8.1% better value option.