Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i7-6700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   Perhaps you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a choice by looking at the Intel Core i5-3470 vs Intel Core i7-6700K tests and understand which is better for games or normal use for rendering, video editing, streaming, machine learning, programming. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or several benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications such as AIDA64, Blender, UserBenchmark, 3DMark, Blender, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Prime95, 7zip, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), MATLAB, VeraCrypt, Gears 5, Dolphin Emulator, PCMark 10, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PassMark, Furmark, SuperPi, RealBench.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results of all benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-6700K or Intel Core i5-3470.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-3470

51%

Core i7-6700K

52%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-6700K is 1% better than Core i5-3470. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-3470

51%

Core i7-6700K

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	90.8	93.6
Valorant	103.2	106.4
Cyberpunk 2077	57.8	59.6
Apex Legends	97.0	100.0
Call of Duty Warzone	77.4	79.8
Overwatch	83.6	86.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.2	73.4
DOOM Eternal	51.6	53.2
Warzone	80.5	83.0
Assassin's Creed	86.7	89.4
Valheim	85.7	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 tested computers not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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 i5-3470

32%

Core i7-6700K

45%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i5-3470 as it consumes less power: 77W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, streaming, machine learning, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account 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 can use only one core to run, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-6700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	127	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	460	888
Cinbench 20 Single-core	313	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1010	2059
Cinbench 23 Single-core	682	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2603	5640

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

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	1953	2556
Multi-Core	4620	8984

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

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	756	1308
Multi-Core	2781	5516

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. 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 in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-3470	Intel Core i7-6700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2012	April 01, 2015
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	LGA1155	LGA1151
Core name	Ivy Bridge	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	3	6
Turbo Frequency	3.6 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.2 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	5 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	22 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	1480 millions	1750 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	77 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR3 1333/1600	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	32 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 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 i7-6700K is 19% better than Core i5-3470 in terms of CPU frequency. 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 i5-3470 is better: 1
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-6700K is better: 32
Although it should be realized that all the data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-3470 and Intel Core i7-6700K before making a choice which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-3470 specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-6700K specs and review.