Intel Core i5-6400 vs Intel Core i7-6700K

Processor comparisons   17-03-2021
   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a choice after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-6400 vs Intel Core i7-6700K and decide which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, programming, video editing, streaming. Here you can find useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A careful review of all the specifications, so that it can be easier to read, is made by the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like UserBenchmark, Blender, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, 7zip, Blender, Handbrake, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Dolphin Emulator, PassMark, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), DaVinci Resolve Studio, Prime95, MATLAB, WPrime, Furmark, RealBench, SuperPi, 3DMark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, PCMark 10.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-6700K or Intel Core i5-6400.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-6400

51%

Core i7-6700K

52%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-6700K is 1% better than Core i5-6400. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6400

51%

Core i7-6700K

53%

For the maximum in this test, the results of the most powerful processor in the site database are taken. And it is clear that 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 little game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Control, Metro Exodus, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, DOTA 2A, NBA 2K20, Monster Hunter World, Half-Life: Alyx, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Ghostrunner, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.3	93.6
Valorant	103.7	106.4
Cyberpunk 2077	58.1	59.6
Apex Legends	97.5	100.0
Call of Duty Warzone	77.8	79.8
Overwatch	84.0	86.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.6	73.4
DOOM Eternal	51.9	53.2
Warzone	80.9	83.0
Assassin's Creed	87.1	89.4
Valheim	86.1	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 comparing not only were the equipped with different video cards and different amounts of RAM. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 4K, 2K or FullHD. So 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-6400

49%

Core i7-6700K

45%

To make a final 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 i5-6400 is more energy efficient than the Core i7-6700K since it has less power consumption: 65W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. And TDP should be taken into account when choosing a processor cooling system. It is necessary to calculate so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, video rendering or video editing, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU includes all threads and cores that it has. You will find out this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to run, and all the benefit 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 i5-6400	Intel Core i7-6700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	140	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	497	888
Cinbench 20 Single-core	275	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1061	2059
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1001	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3997	5640

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

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	1957	2556
Multi-Core	5167	8984

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

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	959	1308
Multi-Core	3221	5516

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most useful 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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. If the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i5-6400	Intel Core i7-6700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2015	April 01, 2015
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	LGA 1151	LGA1151
Core name	Skylake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6	6
Turbo Frequency	3.3 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	2.7 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	1750 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	65 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	64 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 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 32% better than Core i5-6400 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 i5-6400 is better: 2
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-6700K is better: 25
Although it should be understood that all the data in the table above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple quantitative comparison. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-6400 and Intel Core i7-6700K before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-6400 specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-6700K specs and review.