i5-2500K vs i7-6700

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Aggregate performance score

Core i7-6700
2015
4 cores / 8 threads, 65 Watt
5.08
+95.4%
Core i5-2500K
2011
4 cores / 4 threads, 95 Watt
2.60

Core i7-6700 outperforms Core i5-2500K by an impressive 95% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking12201734
Place by popularity59not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation1.080.39
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)Core i5 (Desktop)
Power efficiency7.402.59
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date1 September 2015 (9 years ago)9 January 2011 (13 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$303$216

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-6700 has 177% better value for money than i5-2500K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads84
Base clock speed3.4 GHz3.3 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz3.7 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s5 GT/s
Multiplier34no data
L1 cache256 KB64 KB (per core)
L2 cache1 MB256K (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm32 nm
Die size122 mm2216 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data73 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)71 °Cno data
Number of transistorsno data1,160 million
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCLGA1151LGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
AES-NI++
AVX++
vPro+no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Accessno data+
SIPP+-
FDIno data+
Fast Memory Accessno data+

Security technologies

Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT+-
EDB++
Secure Key+no data
MPX+-
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEno data
OS Guard+no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K are enumerated here.

AMD-V+-
VT-d+-
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3, DDR4DDR3
Maximum memory size64 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 530Intel HD Graphics 3000
Max video memory64 GBno data
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video+no data
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHz1.1 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported32
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support+no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hzno data
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hzno data
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX12no data
OpenGL4.5no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K.

PCIe version3.02.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-6700 5.08
+95.4%
i5-2500K 2.60

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-6700 8074
+95.8%
i5-2500K 4123

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-6700 1315
+101%
i5-2500K 653

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-6700 4194
+118%
i5-2500K 1924

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-6700 6003
+25.8%
i5-2500K 4773

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-6700 24305
+52.3%
i5-2500K 15956

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-6700 8478
+44.8%
i5-2500K 5853

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-6700 6.8
+71.6%
i5-2500K 11.67

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-6700 9
+64.7%
i5-2500K 5

Cinebench 15 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 15 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R15 which uses all the processor threads.

i7-6700 802
+70.6%
i5-2500K 470

Cinebench 15 64-bit single-core

Cinebench R15 (standing for Release 15) is a benchmark made by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. It was superseded by later versions of Cinebench, which use more modern variants of Cinema 4D engine. The Single Core version (sometimes called Single-Thread) only uses a single processor thread to render a room full of reflective spheres and light sources.

i7-6700 169
+38.1%
i5-2500K 122

3DMark Fire Strike Physics

i7-6700 10300
+82.3%
i5-2500K 5650

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 5.08 2.60
Integrated graphics card 2.60 0.66
Recency 1 September 2015 9 January 2011
Threads 8 4
Chip lithography 14 nm 32 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 95 Watt

i7-6700 has a 95.4% higher aggregate performance score, 293.9% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 4 years, 100% more threads, a 128.6% more advanced lithography process, and 46.2% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-6700 is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-2500K in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6700 and Core i5-2500K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-6700
Core i7-6700
Intel Core i5-2500K
Core i5-2500K

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