Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
If you’rebuying or building an ultra - budget microcomputer , then two of the best processor options around $ 100 are the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 , and the Intel Core i3 - 14100F. These chips total from two different manufacturer from unlike generations , and are built on very unlike designs . But which is best ? It depends what you require to do with your Modern personal computer , and how strict you ’re being in terms of budget .
Here ’s how the Ryzen 5 5600 and Core i3 - 14100F compare , so you’re able to make a smart buying decision for you .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Pricing and availability
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 was released in April 2022 with a inclination price of $ 200 . That ’s amount down importantly since then , with the modal 5600 price at $ 135 , and it is widely uncommitted among a image of retail merchant . It sits alongside the Ryzen 5500 , which costs around $ 100 and has a lower clock velocity .
The Intel Core i3 - 14100F launched in January 2024 with a suggest retail price of $ 109 . Most retail merchant have it at around $ 120 at the time of writing . It ’s widely available at a chain of mountains of retailer . It sits alongside the slightly more expensive Core i3 - 14100 ( non - F ) , with the only remainder being that it has an onboard GPU and a 2 - watt - higher TDP .
Specs
These two central processing unit are more of a straight comparison than some of our other head - to - foreland matchup of recent generations , because the 14100F only uses the single - core architecture . It has four carrying into action essence based on the Raptor Cove architecture , with no efficiency cores — unlike the rest of its generation . However , it does support hyperthreading , so it still supports eight threads , and it has a near-5GHz boost clock .
The Ryzen 5 5600 has a standard six core/12 thread conformation , with a more modest boost clock , but much more cache and a low TDP . In the real human race , it typically draws around 70W , but that ’s still a passel less than the 14100F.
Performance
In real - world testing , these two processors go toe - to - toe with each other fairly well , trading blows bet on the app . InHWCooling ’s examination , the Core i3 - 14100F fell behind the Ryzen 5600 quite notably in 3DMark tests , by between 8 % and 18 % — those superfluous center really give the Ryzen CPU a ramification up there , it seems .
In some games , the roles are reversed , with the Core i3 - 14100F proving itself the good CPU by as much as 10 % in games likeAssassin ’s Creed Valhalla . But in most game , the Ryzen 5 5600 hold a notable , but modest lead of around 5 % bang-up bod per second ( fps ) at 1080p . The difference was less noticeable at 1440p , and basically no - existent at 4 potassium , although you will hamstring your carrying into action with either of these CPUs at that solvent , depending on your GPU .
The supererogatory inwardness offered by the Ryzen 5 5600 give it an advantage in most professional tasks , too . It ends up being almost doubly as fast as the Core i3 - 14100F in decompression and encoding tasks , and it ’s faster for video encoding , too .
That ’s the cause despite the fact that it pull a lot less power . The Core i3 - 14100F can pluck its full - rated 110W when it ’s work peculiarly hard , while the Ryzen 5 5600 scarce breaks out of its 65W evaluation .
Upgrade potential
Both of these CPUs are base on dead - end platform . That is , you are n’t run short to be able to supplant either of these processors with a next - propagation model , unless you ’re going to replace the motherboard ( and likely memory ) too . That said , there is a muckle of upgrade potential within these generation .
For the Ryzen 5 5600 , you have the pick of received Ryzen 5000 CPUs with more CORE , like the 5700X , 5900X , and 5950X , which have eight , 12 , and 16 cores , respectively . These CPUs are n’t the cheapest , despite their age , so it will still be worth moot upgrade to a newfangled program entirely when the prison term comes , but you have some satisfying options . The more corner 5800X3D is particularly impressivefor offer comparatively competitive performance with modern arrangement in term of gaming .
On Intel ’s side of things , you have the option of massively expand your centre count and functioning to well in overindulgence of what ’s on offer for the AMD system of rules . The 14400 has 10 kernel , the 14600 K has 14 , and14900 K has as many as 24 . However , these are split into public presentation and efficiency cores , so the performance gains are n’t analogue and the higher - remnant processor draw a lot of power . The top chips go well in overabundance of 250W , so they aim much greater demand on cooling , although you’re able to go to the very edged border of processor operation if you wish — you ’d just in all probability want to also upgrade your memory and motherboard to take full vantage .
5600 vs 14100: What’s the best CPU?
With the cost of these two CPU being within around $ 10 of each other , it really has to come down to how they perform . On that front , the Ryzen 5 5600 is the better processor . It ’s quicker in most game and applications , leverage its additional pith and greater thread livelihood to deliver more impressive multi - threaded performance . It also does it at around two - thirds the power draw , which pretend it easier to cool and cheaper to run .
The 14100F is the most impressive Core i3 CPU Intel has ever made , but its limitation of just four heart and soul is harbor it back from being a reliable competitor , here . Its power attraction is also very eminent for such a modest processor .
Neither of these processors have the best upgrade way of life , but the 5800X3D offers a tantalizing rising slope for Ryzen 5 5600 gamers . Those buying the 14100F have great upgrade performance potential , but the fourteenth coevals is not the most darling of descent , and it still wo n’t propose anything beyond what ’s already available .
Want an even cheaper processor that ’s still militant with both of these option ? The Ryzen 5 5500 can be had for around $ 95 when it ’s on sales event .
