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Prior to the introduction of AMD Ryzen processors, Skylake and Kaby Lake, which were essentially rehashes of the original processors, were the only options on the market. Yes, there were other AMD solutions; that is logical; however, there was no workable option for a mid-range or high-end gaming team; even AMD APUs fell short. As a result, AMD concentrated all of its efforts on creating a new architecture, dubbed Zen, which gave rise to the AMD Ryzen processors, specifically this AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

Processors with the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 feature six cores and twelve processing threads. Two CCX modules with three active cores each serve as the foundation for these CPUs. These processors were created because AMD wanted to use the processors that, during the production process, one of the cores of each CCX set had some damage and couldn’t be used for the Ryzen 7. Since the other cores are all perfectly functional, this is a regular practice among Intel and AMD processors, which use some faulty silicon processors during manufacture. All that is required is to deactivate the broken processor.

These brand-new AMD Ryzen 5 CPUs are designed to compete with the Intel Core i5 6600 and i5 7600 of the Kaby Lake and Skylake architectures. AMD processors are the best choice for simultaneous gaming and streaming, as well as photo editing, due to the differences in processing cores and threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 1400, which we have examined and which provides good gaming performance, may be a better option, but for those seeking something more, there is also the AMD Ryzen 5 1600.

It should be noted that AMD Ryzen processors are becoming better over time, with BIOS upgrades that, in part because of the AGESA code, fix some speed and latency issues. Regarding video games, Ashes of the Singularity’s recent update provided a performance boost of about 20% for these processors, and Microsoft has improved Windows 10’s performance by fixing the operating system’s initial issue where it mistakenly treated threaded processing as if it were physical cores. Over time, other games should include these upgrades.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Specifications

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 comes with six cores and 12 threads, just as its $250 (on release) 1600X brother. While the 1600 fits under the 65W TDP band, AMD classifies the 1600X as a 95W component. As anticipated, the lower TDP of the 1600 results in lower voltages, lower stock frequencies, and lower thermal output. The basic clock speed of the Ryzen 5 1600 is 3.2 GHz as opposed to the “X” model’s 3.6 GHz, and the dual-core Precision Boost frequency is similarly 400 MHz slower.

XFR (eXtended Frequency Range) technology, which enables the CPU to dynamically modify its clock rate (for two cores) above the Precision Boost rating based on available thermal headroom, is not included in AMD’s non-X models, according to AMD. We observed rates that frequently soared above 3.7 GHz on two cores during a single-core Cinebench test, suggesting that the Ryzen 5 1600 is also equipped with XFR. The architecture’s large 16MB L3 cache, SenseMI suite, and unlocked multiplier are just a few of the other elements that haven’t changed.

Similar to Intel’s K-series processors, AMD’s X models don’t include thermal solutions. Therefore, their increased platform cost is matched by their increased frequency headroom. AMD adds value to the Ryzen 5 1600 processor by including its 95W Wraith Spire cooling. The 1600 fits into Socket AM4 like all other Ryzen CPUs do. A 6C/12T setup with enough of horsepower to spare for a variety of enthusiast applications may be created by combining the cost-effective processor with a cheap B350-based motherboard.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Specs

Platform	Boxed Processor
# of CPU Cores	6
Base Clock	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	16MB
Unlocked for Overclocking	Yes
Thermal Solution (MPK)	Wraith Spire
*OS Support	Windows 11 – 64-Bit EditionWindows 10 – 64-Bit EditionRHEL x86 64-BitUbuntu x86 64-Bit
Product Family	AMD Ryzen™ Processors
# of Threads	12
L1 Cache	576KB
Default TDP	65W
CPU Socket	AM4
Max. Operating Temperature (Tjmax)	95°C
Product Line	AMD Ryzen™ 5 Desktop Processors
Max. Boost Clock	Up to 3.6GHz
L2 Cache	3MB
Processor Technology for CPU Cores	14nm
Thermal Solution (PIB)	Wraith Spire
Launch Date	04/11/2017

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Performance & Tests

First up in our testing regiment is Maxon’s CPU-intensive Cinebench R15 test, which fully threads to utilize all processor cores and threads and renders complex images using the CPU rather than the GPU. 

A proprietary score so indicates whether a PC is suitable for workloads that are processor-intensive.To better understand how AMD’s new chip performs in workloads with light threading, we’ve included the single-core results here in addition to the standard test that utilizes all available cores.

The single-core performance of AMD’s older generation of CPUs was a problem. Although it couldn’t compete with the Core i7-7700K or the dual-core Core i3-7350K, AMD’s new Ryzen 5 1600 processor was at least comparable with the Core i5-6600K.

In the single-core test, the more recent Intel Kaby Lake Core i7-7700K performed exceptionally well because to its high clock speed (4.2GHz to 4.5GHz) and modern architecture. However, when all cores and threads were considered, the Ryzen 5 1600 almost doubled the Core i5’s performance and even outperformed the $340 (on release) Core i7 CPU by more than 10%. Among the Ryzen 5 CPUs, only the Ryzen 5 1600X with a higher clock speed performed better. But keep in mind that because the processor doesn’t come with a built-in CPU cooler, the $249 (on release) price is actually higher than it appears to be.

As a last test of a CPU’s multi-core capabilities, we launched the well-known file-compression program 7-Zip and ran its included compression/decompression benchmark.

The AMD Ryzen 5 1600 once more outperformed the Core i5 processor and even the Core i7-7700K. It is now evident that no Intel processor we have tested (or are aware of) that is even remotely close to the $220 price range of the Ryzen 5 1600 can compete with AMD’s performance in usage cases when all cores and threads are being utilized. The six-core, 12-thread Core i7-6800K would probably be a better match, but it costs $400 and higher and needs a costly motherboard with the expensive X99 chipset.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Conclusion

The 1600’s affordable pricing is difficult to overlook. Given that it performed well in our application and game suite and has the lowest price-per-core among AMD’s Ryzen offerings, this CPU also offers an amazing price-to-performance ratio. Relative to Intel’s Core i5-7600K and AMD’s Ryzen 5 1600X, neither of which includes a thermal solution, the addition of a supplied 95W cooler increases the savings. Additionally, for a small premium above the Core i5-7500, the Ryzen 5 1600 offers superior performance in a variety of applications. That ought to make you consider upgrading to AMD’s $220 Ryzen rather than purchasing a locked Intel model.