Not that long ago we took a look at AMD’s new flagship mainstream processor the Ryzen 7 2700X, which is an 8-core, 16-thread part. Take a step down and about $100 off the price of the Ryzen 7 2700X and you have a 6-core, 12-thread Ryzen 5 2600X. This second generation Ryzen processor has a base clock of 3.6 GHz and boosts up to 4.2 GHz. All of that performance, and cores for only $225 at our favorite online retailer. On top of that since this is a second generation Ryzen part you have Precision Boost 2 and XFR2. Given its price and expected performance this could be the processor to get for new PC builders. Read on as we see what the Ryzen 5 2600X can do!
Special thanks to AMD for providing us with the Ryzen 5 2600X Processor to review.
Specifications
# of CPU Cores: 6
# of Threads: 12
Base Clock: 3.6GHz
Max Boost Clock: 4.2GHz
Total L1 Cache: 576KB
Total L2 Cache: 3MB
Total L3 Cache: 16MB
Unlocked: Yes
CMOS: 12nm FinFET
Package: AM4
PCI Express Version: PCIe 3.0 x16
Thermal Solution: Wraith Spire
Default TDP / TDP: 95W
Max Temps: 95°C
Packaging
AMD really has not changed the packaging for the second generation Ryzen processors from the first generation. On the front there is a large Ryzen logo and in the bottom right there is a “5” letting us know this is a Ryzen 5 series chip.
Opening the box up inside we find two boxes. One includes the chip and a Ryzen case badge and the other includes the Wraith Spire CPU cooler.
The Wraith Spire CPU cooler is not as great as the Wrath Prism RGB cooler that came with the Ryzen 7 2700X, but it should definitely get the job done. It is a pretty basic cooler made up if a heatsink stack with a solid copper core.
There is a small fan on the top of the cooler. The base of the cooler does come with thermal paste pre-applied, so be careful when you take it out of the package.
Here are a couple of shots of the chip before we installed it in our system.
