Intel Core i5-6200U vs Intel Core i7-2600

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   Let's say you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-6200U vs Intel Core i7-2600 and decide which is better for games or simple use for rendering, streaming, programming, machine learning, video editing. Here is all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the technical characteristics, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests like GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Furmark, RealBench, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, Prime95, Blender, PassMark, Handbrake, VeraCrypt, AIDA64, MATLAB, 7zip, 3DMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Blender, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, SuperPi, Dolphin Emulator.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

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 i7-2600 or Intel Core i5-6200U.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-6200U

50%

Core i7-2600

51%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-2600 is 1% better than Core i5-6200U. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6200U

50%

Core i7-2600

51%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	89.7	91.3
Valorant	102.0	103.7
Cyberpunk 2077	57.1	58.1
Apex Legends	95.8	97.5
Call of Duty Warzone	76.5	77.8
Overwatch	82.6	84.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	70.4	71.6
DOOM Eternal	51.0	51.9
Warzone	79.5	80.9
Assassin's Creed	85.6	87.1
Valheim	84.6	86.1

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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, 4K or FullHD. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful 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 i5-6200U

157%

Core i7-2600

29%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. The newer the processor generation, the better its performance in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i5-6200U is more energy efficient than the Core i7-2600 as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 95W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. 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

For example you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, programming, video editing or video rendering, 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 uses all cores and threads 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 work, and all the benefit 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 i5-6200U	Intel Core i7-2600
Cinbench 15 Single-core	119	124
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	290	568
Cinbench 20 Single-core	282	257
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	735	1824
Cinbench 23 Single-core	716	759
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	1706	3647

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

	Intel Core i5-6200U	Intel Core i7-2600
Single-Core	1586	1751
Multi-Core	3019	5341

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

	Intel Core i5-6200U	Intel Core i7-2600
Single-Core	707	844
Multi-Core	1691	3227

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the the possibility of overclocking it and release date of the processor. The newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in the newest games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-6200U	Intel Core i7-2600
Announcement date	April 01, 2015	October 01, 2010
Type	Laptop	Desktop
Socket	FCBGA1356	LGA1155
Core name	Skylake	Sandy Bridge
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6
Turbo Frequency	2.8 MHz	3.8 MHz
Frequency	2.3 MHz	3.4 MHz
Cores	2	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	4 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Transistors count	1750 millions	2460 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600	DDR3 1066/1333
Max. Memory	32 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	21 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	3 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 i7-2600 is 32% better than Core i5-6200U in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i7-2600 has 2 more core than Core i5-6200U. 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 i5-6200U is better: 6
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-2600 is better: 27
However, it should be understood that all the figures in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should undividedly trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-6200U and Intel Core i7-2600 before making a selection which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i5-6200U specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-2600 specs and review.