Intel Core i7-6660U vs Intel Core i3-8121U

Processor comparisons   20-01-2022
   If you can't decide which CPU to buy, you can make a decision after reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i7-6660U vs Intel Core i3-8121U and see which is better for games or simple use for video editing, machine learning, programming, streaming, rendering. Here you can find all information from real streaming and video editing tests or several benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is presented in the form of the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in synthetic type tests like RealBench, Blender, Prime95, Handbrake, PCMark 10, GeekBench 6, 5.2, 7zip, 3DMark, PassMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, MATLAB, DaVinci Resolve Studio, WPrime, AIDA64, UserBenchmark, Blender, Gears 5, VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, Furmark.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to know which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i3-8121U or Intel Core i7-6660U.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i7-6660U

51%

Core i3-8121U

51%

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i7-6660U

51%

Core i3-8121U

51%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	90.0	90.1
Valorant	102.3	102.4
Cyberpunk 2077	57.3	57.3
Apex Legends	96.2	96.2
Call of Duty Warzone	76.7	76.8
Overwatch	82.9	82.9
Red Dead Redemption 2	70.6	70.6
DOOM Eternal	51.1	51.2
Warzone	79.8	79.9
Assassin's Creed	85.9	86.0
Valheim	84.9	85.0

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 amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: FullHD, 2K or 4K. 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 i7-6660U

190%

Core i3-8121U

200%

To make a final decision 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 i3-8121U is more energy efficient than the Core i7-6660U since it has less power consumption: 15W vs. 15W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need to know its TDP. It is necessary to count 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, streaming, programming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its 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 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 work, and all the advantages 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 i7-6660U	Intel Core i3-8121U
Cinbench 15 Single-core	91	139
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	448	305
Cinbench 20 Single-core	186	340
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	934	598
Cinbench 23 Single-core	548	563
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	2633	2184

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

	Intel Core i7-6660U	Intel Core i3-8121U
Single-Core	1816	1939
Multi-Core	3856	4369

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

	Intel Core i7-6660U	Intel Core i3-8121U
Single-Core	855	901
Multi-Core	1980	2063

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 you. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. 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 even in the newest games. The savings are obvious! It turns out that you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer.

	Intel Core i7-6660U	Intel Core i3-8121U
Announcement date	March 07, 2016	July 07, 2018
Type	Laptop	Laptop
Socket	FCBGA1356	Unknown
Core name	Skylake	Cannon Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	6	8
Turbo Frequency	3.4 MHz	3.2 MHz
Frequency	2.4 MHz	2.2 MHz
Cores	2	2
Threads	4	4
Bus rate	4 GT/s	4 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	10 nm
Transistors count	1700 millions	1800 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	15 W
Memory type	DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600	DDR4-2400, LPDDR4/x-2400
Max. Memory	32 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	37.5 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	4 MB	4 MB
Overclocking	No	No
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 i7-6660U is 8% better than Core i3-8121U 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 i7-6660U is better: 5
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i3-8121U is better: 19
Although it should be understood that the summary data in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should completely trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i7-6660U and Intel Core i3-8121U before making a selection which CPU to buy for gaming and which not.

Intel Core i7-6660U - all data

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

• Intel Core i7-6660U specs and review.

Intel Core i3-8121U - all data

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

• Intel Core i3-8121U specs and review.