Intel Core i9-10900K vs Intel Core i7-6700K

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   You may have difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Intel Core i9-10900K vs Intel Core i7-6700K and understand which is better for games or normal use for machine learning, rendering, video editing, streaming, programming. Here you can find useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or various benchmarks. A thorough analysis of all the technical characteristics, so that it can be easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the video comparison, you can get the results of parallel examination in synthetic type tests such as 7zip, AIDA64, VeraCrypt, SuperPi, WPrime, Furmark, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, GeekBench 6, 5.2, PassMark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), Gears 5, PCMark 10, UserBenchmark, DaVinci Resolve Studio, 3DMark, Prime95, Handbrake, Blender, RealBench, Blender, MATLAB, Dolphin Emulator.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

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

After looking at the data these benchmarks and videos, you already be able to figure out which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i7-6700K or Intel Core i9-10900K.

Summary benchmark results

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

Core i9-10900K

57%

Core i7-6700K

52%

This shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10900K 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 i9-10900K

58%

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

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	102.7	93.6
Valorant	116.7	106.4
Cyberpunk 2077	65.3	59.6
Apex Legends	109.7	100.0
Call of Duty Warzone	87.5	79.8
Overwatch	94.5	86.2
Red Dead Redemption 2	80.5	73.4
DOOM Eternal	58.3	53.2
Warzone	91.0	83.0
Assassin's Creed	98.0	89.4
Valheim	96.8	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 that were in the comparisons not only did they have different video cards and different amounts of RAM. 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 get acquainted with the benchmarks that are made with the same video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-10900K

43%

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 i9-10900K 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. 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

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, streaming, video editing or video rendering, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, to reach maximum efficiency, the CPU turns on all cores and threads 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 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 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 i9-10900K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Cinbench 15 Single-core	234	180
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2677	888
Cinbench 20 Single-core	539	421
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6399	2059
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1418	1124
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17325	5640

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

	Intel Core i9-10900K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	3141	2556
Multi-Core	24010	8984

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

	Intel Core i9-10900K	Intel Core i7-6700K
Single-Core	1617	1308
Multi-Core	14374	5516

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 in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system later. 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 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 i9-10900K	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	5.3 MHz	4.2 MHz
Frequency	3.7 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	No	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 7% better than Core i9-10900K in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10900K 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 i9-10900K is better: 29
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i7-6700K is better: 4
However, it should be realized that all the number in the article above do not mean that taking them into account you should fully trust a simple comparison of these figures. Better to watch the video tests and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-10900K and Intel Core i7-6700K before making a choice which processor to buy for gaming and which not.

• Intel Core i9-10900K specs and review.

• Intel Core i7-6700K specs and review.