Intel Core i5-6500 vs Intel Core i7-6700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   You may have difficulties with the choice of a CPU, you will solve them by reading the detailed tests Intel Core i5-6500 vs Intel Core i7-6700K and decide which is better for games or normal use for streaming, machine learning, rendering, video editing, programming. Here you can find useful information from many benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A thorough analysis 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 special test applications such as Furmark, Prime95, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, RealBench, MATLAB, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 3DMark, UserBenchmark, 7zip, Gears 5, VeraCrypt, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, SuperPi, DaVinci Resolve Studio, PassMark, WPrime, Handbrake, Blender, Dolphin Emulator, AIDA64, Blender.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data 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 i5-6500.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-6500

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 i5-6500. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6500

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 of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will run games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a small 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: Hitman 3, Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, League of Legends (LOL), Ghostrunner, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, NBA 2K20, DOTA 2A, Control, Battlefield V, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Half-Life: Alyx, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter World.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	91.4	93.6
Valorant	103.9	106.4
Cyberpunk 2077	58.2	59.6
Apex Legends	97.6	100.0
Call of Duty Warzone	77.9	79.8
Overwatch	84.1	86.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	71.7	73.4
DOOM Eternal	51.9	53.2
Warzone	81.0	83.0
Assassin's Creed	87.3	89.4
Valheim	86.2	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: 4K, 2K 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i5-6500

51%

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 i5-6500 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. 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

Let's say you want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on 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 software you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that 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 i5-6500	Intel Core i7-6700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	153	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	565	888
Cinbench 20 Single-core	354	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1299	2059
Cinbench 23 Single-core	842	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2928	5640

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

	Intel Core i5-6500	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	2149	2556
Multi-Core	5644	8984

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

	Intel Core i5-6500	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	1004	1308
Multi-Core	3346	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 in your computer. 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 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 i5-6500	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	3.6 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.2 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	1760 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 19% better than Core i5-6500 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 i5-6500 is better: 2
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-6700K is better: 25
However, it should be realized that all the data in the text above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i5-6500 and Intel Core i7-6700K before deciding which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i5-6500 specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-6700K specs and review.