Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i7-6700K

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-10600K vs Intel Core i7-6700K and see which is better for games or normal use for rendering, streaming, machine learning, programming, video editing. Here is useful information from different benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests such as VeraCrypt, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, 7zip, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, MATLAB, Furmark, RealBench, Blender, PCMark 10, Gears 5, WPrime, PassMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, 3DMark, UserBenchmark, Blender.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Grand Theft Auto V
Fortnite
Cyberpunk 2077
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Borderlands 3
Halo Infinite
DOOM: Eternal
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Last Man Standing
Valheim
Overwatch
Rainbow Six Siege
Apex Legends
Red Dead Redemption 2
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Death Stranding
Valorant
Watch Dogs Legion
Fallout 76

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-6700K or Intel Core i5-10600K.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i5-10600K

54%

Core i7-6700K

52%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i5-10600K is 3% better than Core i7-6700K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-10600K

55%

Core i7-6700K

53%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And it is clear that this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Monster Hunter World, Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Hitman 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K20, Metro Exodus, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, League of Legends (LOL), DOTA 2A, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Forza Horizon 4, Control.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	97.0	93.6
Valorant	110.2	106.4
Cyberpunk 2077	61.7	59.6
Apex Legends	103.6	100.0
Call of Duty Warzone	82.7	79.8
Overwatch	89.3	86.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	76.1	73.4
DOOM Eternal	55.1	53.2
Warzone	86.0	83.0
Assassin's Creed	92.6	89.4
Valheim	91.5	88.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. To be sure exactly how much performance the processor will be in games, if you get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-10600K

39%

Core i7-6700K

45%

To make a final decision on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i7-6700K is more energy efficient than the Core i5-10600K since it has less power consumption: 125W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. You need to buy a cooler that has the TDP data specified in the specification was greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU includes all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Because there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode turns out to be unnecessary.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	215	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	1615	888
Cinbench 20 Single-core	501	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3629	2059
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1376	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	10379	5640

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	2967	2556
Multi-Core	14674	8984

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	1495	1308
Multi-Core	8815	5516

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-10600K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2015
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	LGA1151
Core name	Comet Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	6
Turbo Frequency	4.8 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	4.1 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	6	4
Threads	12	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	4800 millions	1750 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	12 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i5-10600K is 2% better than Core i7-6700K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i5-10600K has 2 more core than Core i7-6700K. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-10600K is better: 30
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-6700K is better: 2
However, it should be understood that the summary data that you have looked at here do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-10600K and Intel Core i7-6700K before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-10600K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-6700K specs and review.