AMD Ryzen 5 2600 vs AMD Athlon II X2 260

The AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is a 6-core (12-thread) processor built for the desktop CPU market. It launched in Q2 2018 with a suggested retail price of $199. It is part of AMD's Ryzen 5 lineup, which is based on the Zen+ microarchitecture. The 2600 is compatible with AMD Socket AM4 motherboards and is fabricated on GlobalFoundries's 12 nm manufacturing process.

Memory and Cache

The Ryzen 5 2600 supports DDR4 memory and features a dual-channel memory controller, allowing it to utilize 2 memory modules simultaneously. In terms of cache, the Ryzen 5 2600 has multiple levels of cache. Its L1 cache, which is the smallest and fastest, is 96 KB in size, providing rapid access to crucial instructions. Its L2 cache, at 512 KB, is larger but slower than the L1. Its L3 cache, a shared resource among the CPU's cores, has a capacity of 16 MB.

Cores and Clock Speeds

The Ryzen 5 2600 features 6 total cores which can process 12 threads simultaneously. The multi-threading capability allows the CPU to execute multiple computational tasks in parallel. The base clock speed of the CPU is 3.4 GHz, and it can boost up to 3.9 GHz under heavy workloads. Higher clock speeds result in better performance for the same microarchitecture. The multiplier is unlocked, enabling overclocking for those seeking to push the CPU's performance further.

Integrated Graphics

The Ryzen 5 2600 does not include an integrated graphics solution. A dedicated graphics card will be required if you require a monitor with your computer.

Benchmark Performance & Value

The Ryzen 5 2600 has the 185th best 3DMark 11 Performance Physics score among the 721 benchmarked CPUs in our database. It achieves 33.54% of the performance of the best benchmarked CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Its 12,405 score and $199 launch price (MSRP) gives it a performance per dollar of 62.34. This is the 30th best in value for the 3DMark 11 Perf. Physics benchmark.

The AMD Athlon II X2 260 is an end-of-life 2-core (2-thread) processor built for the desktop CPU market. It launched in Q2 2010. It is part of AMD's Athlon II X2 lineup, which is based on the Regor microarchitecture. The X2 260 is compatible with AMD Socket AM3 motherboards and is fabricated on a 45 nm manufacturing process.

Memory and Cache

The Athlon II X2 260 supports DDR3 memory and features a dual-channel memory controller, allowing it to utilize 2 memory modules simultaneously. In terms of cache, the Athlon II X2 260 has multiple levels of cache. Its L1 cache, which is the smallest and fastest, is 128 KB in size, providing rapid access to crucial instructions. Its L2 cache, at 1 MB, is larger but slower than the L1.

Cores and Clock Speeds

The Athlon II X2 260 features 2 total cores which can process 2 threads simultaneously. The multi-threading capability allows the CPU to execute multiple computational tasks in parallel. The base clock speed of the CPU is 3.2 GHz. Higher clock speeds result in higher performance for the same microarchitecture. The multiplier is locked, making it incapable of overclocking for pushing performance further.

Integrated Graphics

The Athlon II X2 260 does not include an integrated graphics solution. A dedicated graphics card will be required if you require a monitor with your computer.