The Ryzen 5 7600X is the mainstream entry-level processor in AMD's latest Ryzen 7000 series, and it is usually compared to Intel's Core i5-13600K. After real tests, the Ryzen 5 7600X is not a rival to the Core i5-13600K, and the performance is still poor.
So, by downgrading Intel's players to the previous generation Core i5-12600K, can the Ryzen 5 7600X beat the Core i5-12600K? How big is the lead?
First, parameter comparison
Core i5-12600K was released on November 4, 2021, using 10nm process, LGA 1700 interface, with 6 large cores, 4 small cores, a total of 16 threads, 9.5 MB for L2 level cache and 20 MB for L3 level cache.
The standard operating frequency is 3.7 GHz, the maximum operating frequency is 4.9 GHz, the integrated UHD Graphics 770 core graphics power consumption is 125W, and the MSRP is $289.
Ryzen 5 7600X was released on September 27, 2022, using TSMC 5nm process, with 6 cores and 12 threads, 384KB L1 cache and 6MB L2 cache.
The standard operating frequency is 4.7GHz, the maximum operating frequency is 5.3GHz, the power consumption is 105W, and the official recommended price is $299.
2. Test platform configuration
The only processors and motherboards are different for these two platforms, and the rest of the accessories are the same, the Core i5-12600K platform motherboard is MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME, and the Ryzen 5 7600X platform motherboard is ASUS CROSSHAIR X670E EXTREME.
Memory is Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 5600 MHz, graphics card is GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 24 GB, and hard disk is Corsair 2x Corsair Force Series MP600 1TB.
3. Actual game testing
Ten games will be tested below, all in 1080P quality mode.
The first game was Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), a relatively lightweight game.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 998 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 561 FPS, a CPU usage of 41%, a power consumption of 103W, a temperature of 80 degrees, a GPU utilization of 97%, a power consumption of 423W, and a temperature of 68 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 710 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 396 FPS, a CPU usage of 39%, a power consumption of 107W and a temperature of 67 degrees, a GPU utilization of 87%, a power consumption of 440W, and a temperature of 66 degrees.
In this game, the Ryzen 5 7600X platform has higher CPU usage and actual running frequency, and can better exploit the potential performance of the GeForce RTX 3090Ti, so its average frame rate is higher, but it is also 17 degrees warmer.
Overall, the Core i5-12600K has a performance bottleneck and cannot play the application performance of the GeForce RTX 3090Ti.
Taking average frame rate as the most important metric, the Ryzen 5 7600X outperforms the Core i5-12600K by about 40.6% in percentage terms.
The second game is Valorant.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 624 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 543 FPS, a CPU usage of 41%, a power consumption of 104W and a temperature of 79 degrees, a GPU utilization of 96%, a power consumption of 426W, and a temperature of 71 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 482 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 242 FPS, a CPU usage of 38%, a power consumption of 108W, a temperature of 66 degrees, a GPU utilization of 88%, a power consumption of 424W, and a temperature of 69 degrees.
In this game, the overall situation is similar to the previous one, with the Ryzen 5 7600X platform having higher CPU usage and actual running frequency, and higher GPU usage, so the average frame rate is higher.
In percentage terms, the Ryzen 5 7600X is about 29.5% ahead of the Core i5-12600K.
The third game is Call of Duty: Warzone.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 207 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 183 FPS, a CPU usage of 42%, a power consumption of 100W, a temperature of 77 degrees, a GPU usage of 97%, a power consumption of 407W, and a temperature of 68 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 211 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 189 FPS, a CPU usage of 40%, a power consumption of 99W and a temperature of 64 degrees, a GPU usage of 87%, a power consumption of 400W, and a temperature of 66 degrees.
In this game, things are a bit unusual, with the Ryzen 5 7600X platform having higher CPU usage and actual operating frequency, higher GPU usage, higher memory usage, and lower average frame rate.
The only advantage of the Core i5-12600K platform is the higher actual memory usage, which seems to be a more memory-dependent game.
Since the average frame rate difference between the two sides is only 4 FPS, it is a tie.
The fourth game is Cyberpunk 2077.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 149 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 127 FPS, a CPU usage of 55%, a power consumption of 102W and a temperature of 76 degrees, a GPU usage of 91%, a power consumption of 421W, and a temperature of 69 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 141 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 118 FPS, a CPU usage of 51%, a power consumption of 103W, a temperature of 64 degrees, a GPU utilization of 93%, a power consumption of 419W, and a temperature of 67 degrees.
In this game, the Core i5-12600K platform has lower CPU usage and actual running frequency, GPU usage is higher, and actual memory usage is higher, but the final average frame rate is still ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X, although only 8 FPS higher.
If the standard is relaxed a little and the error factor is taken into account, it can basically be judged as a draw, and if strictly calculated, the Ryzen 5 7600X is about 5.7% ahead of the Core i5-12600K.
The fifth game is Forza Horizon 5.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 126 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 103 FPS, a CPU usage of 42%, a power consumption of 106W and a temperature of 82 degrees, a GPU usage of 96%, a power consumption of 398W, and a temperature of 71 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 130 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 96 FPS, a CPU usage of 39%, a power consumption of 113W, a temperature of 69 degrees, a GPU utilization of 88%, a power consumption of 389W, and a temperature of 69 degrees.
In this game, the Core i5-12600K platform has lower CPU usage and actual running frequency, GPU usage is higher, actual memory usage is higher, and the final average frame rate is higher, but only 4 FPS higher.
Since the difference in average frame speed between the two sides was too small, it was decided to be a draw.
The sixth game is Fortnite.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 503 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 208 FPS, a CPU usage of 64%, a power consumption of 101W, a temperature of 84 degrees, a GPU usage of 94%, a power consumption of 423W, and a temperature of 67 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 468 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 176 FPS, a CPU usage of 59%, a power consumption of 102W, a temperature of 70 degrees, a GPU utilization of 90%, a power consumption of 421W, and a temperature of 65 degrees.
In this game, the previous situation is restored, the CPU usage and actual running frequency of the Ryzen 5 7600X platform are higher, and the GPU usage is also higher, but the Core i5-12600K platform has higher actual memory and video memory usage, and finally the Ryzen 5 7600X leads.
In percentage terms, the Ryzen 5 7600X is about 7.5% ahead of the Core i5-12600K.
The seventh game is Far Cry 6.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 151 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 88 FPS, a CPU usage of 72%, a power consumption of 99W and a temperature of 77 degrees, a GPU usage of 96%, a power consumption of 419W and a temperature of 69 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 144 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 96 FPS, a CPU usage of 67%, a power consumption of 97W, a temperature of 65 degrees, a GPU utilization of 88%, a power consumption of 416W, and a temperature of 67 degrees.
In this game, the overall situation is similar to the previous one, and the Ryzen 5 7600X is more capable of unleashing the performance of the GeForce RTX 3090Ti, so the average frame rate is ahead, but the lead is not more than 10 FPS.
In percentage terms, the Ryzen 5 7600X is about 4.9% ahead of the Core i5-12600K.
The ninth game is Rainbow Six Siege.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 598 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 410 FPS, a CPU usage of 39%, a power consumption of 108W, a temperature of 75 degrees, a GPU usage of 89%, a power consumption of 431W, and a temperature of 69 degrees.
The average frame rate of the platform is 502 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 366 FPS, the CPU usage is 36%, the power consumption is 117W, the temperature is 63 degrees, the GPU usage is 95%, the power consumption is 431W, and the temperature is 67 degrees.
In this game, the Ryzen 5 7600X platform has higher CPU usage and actual running frequency, but the GPU usage is lower, and the actual memory usage is close to that of the Core i5-12600K, but the actual amount of video memory exceeds that of the opponent, and the average frame rate is significantly ahead.
In percentage terms, the Ryzen 5 7600X is about 19.1% ahead of the Core i5-12600K.
The ninth game is Rainbow Six Siege.
The Ryzen 5 7600X platform has an average frame rate of 598 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 410 FPS, a CPU usage of 39%, a power consumption of 108W, a temperature of 75 degrees, a GPU usage of 89%, a power consumption of 431W, and a temperature of 69 degrees.
The average frame rate of the platform is 502 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 366 FPS, the CPU usage is 36%, the power consumption is 117W, the temperature is 63 degrees, the GPU usage is 95%, the power consumption is 431W, and the temperature is 67 degrees.
In this game, the CPU usage and actual running frequency of the Ryzen 5 7600X platform are higher, but the GPU rate is lower, the actual memory usage is close to the Core i5-12600K, but the actual memory usage exceeds the opponent, and the average frame rate is significantly ahead.
In percentage terms, the Ryzen 5 7600X is about 19.1% ahead of the Core i5-12600K.
The tenth game is Watch Dogs Legion.
The average frame rate of the platform is 143 FPS, the minimum instantaneous frame rate is 108 FPS, the CPU usage is 39%, the power consumption is 104W, the temperature is 79 degrees, the GPU usage is 96%, the power consumption is 426W, and the temperature is 71 degrees.
The Core i5-12600K platform has an average frame rate of 139 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 97 FPS, a CPU usage of 37%, a power consumption of 108W, a temperature of 66 degrees, a GPU usage of 88%, a power consumption of 424W, and a temperature of 69 degrees.
In the last game, the situation returned to the mainstream normal, the Ryzen 5 7600X platform CPU usage and actual running frequency are higher, but the GPU usage is also higher, the actual memory and video memory usage is closer to the Core i5-12600K, and the average frame rate is still ahead.
But the gap between the two sides was not large, and the Ryzen 5 7600X was only 4 FPS ahead and still ruled to be a draw.
Fourth, comparative conclusions
Overall, the performance of the Ryzen 5 7600X still exceeds that of the Core i5-12600K, and the GeForce RTX 3090Ti can play more performance.
However, the performance of the Ryzen 5 7600X is not overwhelming either, with three Core i5-12600K scores that surpass the Ryzen 5 7600X among the ten games mentioned above, and three with an average frame rate difference of less than 10 FPS from the Ryzen 5 7600X.
As a result, the two are barely equal, with the Core i5-12600K slightly worse, and it's worth mentioning that it's better at temperature control.