Intel Core i9-10850K vs Intel Core i7-6700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you can't decide which processor to buy, you can make a decision after reading the detailed tests Intel Core i9-10850K vs Intel Core i7-6700K and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, video editing, programming, rendering, streaming. Here is useful information from several benchmarks or real streaming and video editing tests. A careful analysis 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 synthetic type tests such as MATLAB, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, SuperPi, 3DMark, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, Handbrake, Furmark, Gears 5, PCMark 10, Prime95, RealBench, Blender, UserBenchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 7zip, Dolphin Emulator, WPrime, Blender, Cinebench 23 (20, 15).
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After reading the results these benchmarks and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-6700K or Intel Core i9-10850K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10850K

57%

Core i7-6700K

52%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10850K is 8% better than Core i7-6700K. The data source is several popular tests. Detailed information can be found below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-10850K

56%

Core i7-6700K

53%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	99.8	93.6
Valorant	113.4	106.4
Cyberpunk 2077	63.5	59.6
Apex Legends	106.6	100.0
Call of Duty Warzone	85.1	79.8
Overwatch	91.9	86.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	78.3	73.4
DOOM Eternal	56.7	53.2
Warzone	88.5	83.0
Assassin's Creed	95.3	89.4
Valheim	94.1	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: 2K, FullHD or 4K. 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 i9-10850K

36%

Core i7-6700K

45%

To make a final 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 i7-6700K is more energy efficient than the Core i9-10850K as it consumes less power: 125W vs. 95W. Power consumption is especially important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you need 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 want to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for video editing or video rendering, machine learning, streaming, programming, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to achieve maximum performance, the processor turns on all threads and cores that it has. You will find out 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. Because there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the benefit 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 i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	229	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2616	888
Cinbench 20 Single-core	536	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6318	2059
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1367	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	16820	5640

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

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	3074	2556
Multi-Core	23350	8984

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

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	1383	1308
Multi-Core	11578	5516

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-10850K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Announcement date	April 01, 2020	April 01, 2015
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA1200	LGA1151
Core name	Comet Lake	Skylake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	10	6
Turbo Frequency	5.1 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.6 MHz	4 MHz
Cores	10	4
Threads	20	8
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	9200 millions	1750 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	125 W	95 W
Memory type	DDR4-2933	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
Max. Memory	128 Gb	64 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	45.8 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	20 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 9% better than Core i9-10850K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10850K has 6 more core than Core i7-6700K. 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 i9-10850K is better: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-6700K is better: 3
Although it should be understood that all the number in the text above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these numbers. Be sure to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-10850K and Intel Core i7-6700K before making a decision which of the processors to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-10850K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-6700K specs and review.