Intel Core i7-6500U vs Intel Core i5-6300U

Processor comparisons   05-02-2023
   Let's say you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i7-6500U vs Intel Core i5-6300U and decide which is better for games or simple use for machine learning, streaming, programming, video editing, rendering. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or different benchmarks. A thorough review of all the specifications, to make it easier to read, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in special test applications like GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, RealBench, Dolphin Emulator, Handbrake, AIDA64, PCMark 10, 3DMark, MATLAB, VeraCrypt, DaVinci Resolve Studio, UserBenchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), 7zip, Prime95, PassMark, Gears 5, Furmark, Blender, SuperPi, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, WPrime.
   And how good the processors are in games:

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

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you can already make an informed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i5-6300U or Intel Core i7-6500U.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-6500U

51%

Core i5-6300U

50%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i7-6500U is 1% better than Core i5-6300U. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-6500U

51%

Core i5-6300U

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 run 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 final table below.
List of less popular games in which processors were compared: Hitman 3, League of Legends (LOL), NBA 2K20, Half-Life: Alyx, DOTA 2A, Monster Hunter World, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Battlefield V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Forza Horizon 4, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Control, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	89.9	89.9
Valorant	102.1	102.1
Cyberpunk 2077	57.2	57.2
Apex Legends	96.0	96.0
Call of Duty Warzone	76.6	76.6
Overwatch	82.7	82.7
Red Dead Redemption 2	70.5	70.5
DOOM Eternal	51.1	51.1
Warzone	79.6	79.6
Assassin's Creed	85.8	85.8
Valheim	84.8	84.7

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: 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 compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i7-6500U

183%

Core i5-6300U

175%

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 i7-6500U is more energy efficient than the Core i5-6300U as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 15W. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for machine learning, programming, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor includes all threads and cores that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before using the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the software that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, 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 i7-6500U	Intel Core i5-6300U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	132	127
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	302	281
Cinbench 20 Single-core	282	299
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	699	739
Cinbench 23 Single-core	470	777
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2258	1834

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

	Intel Core i7-6500U	Intel Core i5-6300U
Single-Core	1709	1728
Multi-Core	3306	3275

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

	Intel Core i7-6500U	Intel Core i5-6300U
Single-Core	824	790
Multi-Core	1820	1817

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most helpful. The newer the processor, the longer it will last you. 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 still be able to produce maximum FPS even in new games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Intel Core i7-6500U	Intel Core i5-6300U
Announcement date	September 18, 2015	April 01, 2015
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1356	FCBGA1356
Core name	Skylake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6	6
Turbo Frequency	3.1 MHz	3 MHz
Frequency	2.5 MHz	2.4 MHz
Cores	2	2
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	4 GT/s	4 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	1700 millions	2400 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600
Max. Memory	32 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	4 MB	3 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 i7-6500U is 4% better than Core i5-6300U 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 i7-6500U is better: 11
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i5-6300U is better: 6
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Better to watch benchmarks video and read the reviews of real owners of Intel Core i7-6500U and Intel Core i5-6300U before making a selection which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i7-6500U - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-6500U specs and review.

• Intel Core i5-6300U specs and review.