i5-9600KF vs i7-6950X

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-6950X
2016
10 cores / 20 threads, 140 Watt
11.15
+62.8%
Core i5-9600KF
2019
6 cores / 6 threads, 95 Watt
6.85

Core i7-6950X outperforms Core i5-9600KF by an impressive 63% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking7081025
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.847.39
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i5
Power efficiency7.406.70
Architecture codenameBroadwell-E (2016)Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
Release date31 May 2016 (8 years ago)7 January 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,723$262

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i5-9600KF has 780% better value for money than i7-6950X.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF 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 cores10 (Deca-Core)6 (Hexa-Core)
Threads206
Base clock speed3 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz4.6 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 3.0
Bus rate9.6 GT/s / QPI4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplierno data37
L1 cache32K (per core)384 KB
L2 cache256K (per core)1.5 MB
L3 cache25 MB (shared)9 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die size246 mm2149 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
Number of transistors3,800 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier++

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF 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 configuration11 (Uniprocessor)
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1151
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt95 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
TSX-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Smart Response+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+no data

Security technologies

Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
MPX-+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF 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 i5-9600KF. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4-2666
Maximum memory size128 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidthno data41.6 GB/s

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4016

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.

i7-6950X 11.15
+62.8%
i5-9600KF 6.85

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.

i7-6950X 17374
+62.7%
i5-9600KF 10677

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.

i7-6950X 1316
i5-9600KF 1615
+22.7%

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.

i7-6950X 8588
+48.8%
i5-9600KF 5770

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 11.15 6.85
Recency 31 May 2016 7 January 2019
Physical cores 10 6
Threads 20 6
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 95 Watt

i7-6950X has a 62.8% higher aggregate performance score, and 66.7% more physical cores and 233.3% more threads.

i5-9600KF, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 2 years, and 47.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-6950X is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-9600KF in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6950X and Core i5-9600KF, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-6950X
Core i7-6950X
Intel Core i5-9600KF
Core i5-9600KF

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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