i5-12600HX vs i7-6950X
Aggregate performance score
Core i5-12600HX outperforms Core i7-6950X by a substantial 38% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 706 | 457 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 0.85 | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop processor | Laptop |
| Series | Intel Core i7 (Desktop) | no data |
| Power efficiency | 7.39 | 26.03 |
| Architecture codename | Broadwell-E (2016) | Alder Lake-HX (2022) |
| Release date | 31 May 2016 (8 years ago) | 10 May 2022 (2 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $1,723 | no data |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
Performance per price, higher is better.
Detailed specifications
Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX 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 cores | 10 (Deca-Core) | 12 (Dodeca-Core) |
| Threads | 20 | 16 |
| Base clock speed | 3 GHz | 2.5 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 4 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| Bus rate | 9.6 GT/s / QPI | no data |
| L1 cache | 32K (per core) | 80K (per core) |
| L2 cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |
| L3 cache | 25 MB (shared) | 18 MB (shared) |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | Intel 7 nm |
| Die size | 246 mm2 | 215 mm2 |
| Maximum core temperature | no data | 100 °C |
| Maximum case temperature (TCase) | 72 °C | no data |
| Number of transistors | 3,800 million | no data |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
| Windows 11 compatibility | - | + |
| Unlocked multiplier | + | + |
Compatibility
Information on Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX 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 configuration | 1 | 1 |
| Socket | FCLGA2011 | FCBGA1964 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 140 Watt | 55 Watt |
Technologies and extensions
Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.
| Instruction set extensions | no data | Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2 |
| AES-NI | + | + |
| FMA | - | + |
| AVX | + | + |
| vPro | no data | + |
| Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST) | + | + |
| Speed Shift | no data | + |
| Turbo Boost Technology | 2.0 | no data |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | + | + |
| TSX | - | + |
| Idle States | + | no data |
| Thermal Monitoring | - | + |
| Flex Memory Access | no data | + |
| SIPP | - | + |
| Smart Response | + | no data |
| Turbo Boost Max 3.0 | + | + |
| Deep Learning Boost | - | + |
Security technologies
Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.
| TXT | + | + |
| EDB | + | + |
| Secure Key | no data | + |
| OS Guard | no data | + |
Virtualization technologies
Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX are enumerated here.
| VT-d | + | + |
| VT-x | + | + |
| EPT | + | + |
Memory specs
Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.
| Supported memory types | DDR4 | DDR4, DDR5 |
| Maximum memory size | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max memory channels | 4 | 2 |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | no data | 76.8 GB/s |
| ECC memory support | - | + |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card | no data | Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors |
| Quick Sync Video | - | + |
| Graphics max frequency | no data | 1.35 GHz |
| Execution Units | no data | 32 |
Graphics interfaces
Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX integrated GPUs.
| Number of displays supported | no data | 4 |
Graphics image quality
Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.
| Max resolution over HDMI 1.4 | no data | 4096 x 2304 @ 60Hz |
| Max resolution over eDP | no data | 5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz |
| Max resolution over DisplayPort | no data | 7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz |
Graphics API support
APIs supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.
| DirectX | no data | 12.1 |
| OpenGL | no data | 4.6 |
Peripherals
Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX.
| PCIe version | 3.0 | 5.0 and 4.0 |
| PCI Express lanes | 40 | 20 |
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.
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.
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 11.35 | 15.70 |
| Recency | 31 May 2016 | 10 May 2022 |
| Physical cores | 10 | 12 |
| Threads | 20 | 16 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 140 Watt | 55 Watt |
i7-6950X has 25% more threads.
i5-12600HX, on the other hand, has a 38.3% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, 20% more physical cores, and 154.5% lower power consumption.
The Core i5-12600HX is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-6950X in performance tests.
Note that Core i7-6950X is a desktop processor while Core i5-12600HX is a notebook one.
Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6950X and Core i5-12600HX, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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