Intel Core i5-6600K vs Intel Core i7-4790K

Processor comparisons 04-02-2023

   Perhaps you are thinking about choosing a CPU, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i5-6600K vs Intel Core i7-4790K tests and decide which is better for games or normal use for rendering, machine learning, programming, video editing, streaming. Here is all information from real video editing and streaming tests or many 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 parallel examination in synthetic type tests like Dolphin Emulator, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, 7zip, DaVinci Resolve Studio, SuperPi, PCMark 10, 3DMark, Blender, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, Blender, Gears 5, AIDA64, Handbrake, Prime95, PassMark, RealBench, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After reading the results of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-4790K or Intel Core i5-6600K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i5-6600K

51%

Core i7-4790K

52%

This value shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-4790K is 1% better than Core i5-6600K. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i5-6600K

52%

Core i7-4790K

52%

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 the cost of this processor reaches several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the summary table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: NBA 2K20, Forza Horizon 4, Control, League of Legends (LOL), Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Battlefield V, DOTA 2A, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Half-Life: Alyx, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	92.9	92.8
Valorant	105.5	105.5
Cyberpunk 2077	59.1	59.1
Apex Legends	99.2	99.2
Call of Duty Warzone	79.1	79.1
Overwatch	85.5	85.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	72.8	72.8
DOOM Eternal	52.8	52.8
Warzone	82.3	82.3
Assassin's Creed	88.6	88.6
Valheim	87.6	87.6

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. 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. To be sure exactly how much performance 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 i5-6600K

51%

Core i7-4790K

46%

To make a finishing resolution 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 i5-6600K is more energy efficient than the Core i7-4790K as it consumes less power: 91W vs. 88W. Power consumption is particularly 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

Let's say you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for streaming, machine learning, video editing or video rendering, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor uses 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 check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since 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 i5-6600K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	166	169
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	600	854
Cinbench 20 Single-core	395	411
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	1572	1982
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1041	1069
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	3965	4936

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

	Intel Core i5-6600K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	2356	2491
Multi-Core	6286	8030

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

	Intel Core i5-6600K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Single-Core	1399	1230
Multi-Core	4766	4747

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 newer the processor, the longer it will last in your computer. 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 still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. The economy are obvious! Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i5-6600K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Announcement date	September 26, 2015	April 01, 2014
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1151	LGA1150
Core name	Skylake	Devil's Canyon
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6	4
Turbo Frequency	3.9 MHz	4.4 MHz
Frequency	3.5 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	4	4
Threads	4	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	5 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	22 nm
Transistors count	2460 millions	1420 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	91 W	88 W
Memory type	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	6 MB	8 MB
Overclocking	No	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number	Expansion Options

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i7-4790K is 12% better than Core i5-6600K 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 i5-6600K is better: 10
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-4790K is better: 14
However, it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the video tests and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i5-6600K and Intel Core i7-4790K before deciding which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i5-6600K - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Intel Core i5-6600K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-4790K specs and review.