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Intel Core i7-6700K

Intel Core i7-6700K in 2025: Is it Worth Buying the Legendary Processor?

Updated: April 2025

The Intel Core i7-6700K is a legendary processor released in 2015. Despite its age, it still finds its way into budget builds and systems for office tasks. Let's analyze whether it remains relevant in 2025 and who it might be suitable for.

1. Key Specifications: What's Inside?

Architecture and Process Technology

The processor is built on the Skylake architecture (6th generation Intel Core) with a 14 nm manufacturing process. This represented a significant advancement over previous generations: improved IPC (instructions per cycle), support for DDR4, and a more energy-efficient design.

- Cores and Threads: 4 cores, 8 threads (Hyper-Threading).

- Clock Speed: Base frequency — 4.0 GHz, maximum in Turbo Boost — 4.2 GHz.

- Cache: 8 MB L3.

- TDP: 91 W.

Performance

- Geekbench 6: 1479 (single-core), 4900 (multi-core).

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 (supports 4K@60Hz via DisplayPort).

Key Features:

- Unlocked Multiplier — potential for overclocking (though modest due to 14 nm).

- Intel vPro Support — useful for corporate tasks.

- Power-saving Technologies — like Speed Shift for quick frequency adjustments.

Practical Example: In 2024, a user built a PC with the i7-6700K for office tasks — the system handled 20+ browser tabs and Excel without slowdowns.

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

- Socket: LGA 1151 (version v1, not compatible with 8th-9th generation processors!).

- Chipsets: Z170, H170, B150, H110.

Choosing Tips:

- For overclocking, a motherboard with Z170 is needed (e.g., ASUS Z170-A).

- H170/B150 chipsets are suitable for basic tasks but without overclocking.

- Note: Finding new motherboards for LGA 1151 v1 in 2025 is challenging. Prices for remaining stock — $80–120 (e.g., ASRock B150M Pro4S).

Tip: If you already have an LGA 1151 motherboard, the i7-6700K would be a great upgrade. For new builds, it's better to choose a modern platform.

3. Supported Memory

- Type: Only DDR4 (officially up to 2133 MHz, but can be overclocked to 2400–2666 MHz on Z170).

- Max Capacity: Up to 64 GB (depends on the motherboard).

Important: By 2025, DDR4 is gradually being replaced by DDR5, but DDR4-2133 modules are still available (16 GB — $35–45).

Example: For gaming with a discrete graphics card, 16 GB of DDR4-2400 is sufficient. Integrated graphics will benefit from dual-channel mode.

4. Power Supply Recommendations

- Minimum Wattage: 400 W (considering a mid-range graphics card).

- Certification: 80+ Bronze or higher.

Configuration Examples:

- Without a discrete graphics card: 300 W PSU (e.g., be quiet! Pure Power 11 300W).

- With a GPU like NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super: 500 W PSU (Corsair CX550M).

Tip: Don't skimp on the PSU — system stability is more important.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- High single-core performance (relevant for older games and applications).

- Unlocked multiplier for experimentation.

- Reliability and a proven architecture over time.

Cons:

- Only 4 cores — multi-threaded tasks (rendering, streaming) will perform slowly.

- Outdated socket — no upgrade without changing the motherboard.

- Lack of support for PCIe 4.0/5.0 and DDR5.

Real Case: In 2023, a user tried using the i7-6700K for 4K editing in DaVinci Resolve — rendering took twice as long as on a Ryzen 5 5600.

6. Use Scenarios

Gaming:

- Older Titles (2015–2020): The Witcher 3, GTA V — 60+ FPS paired with a GTX 1070-level GPU.

- Modern AAA Titles (2025): Require 6+ cores. In Cyberpunk 2077 on Ultra Settings, dips to 30 FPS are possible.

Work Tasks:

- Office applications, web browsing — perfect.

- Programming, light editing — acceptable but not fast.

Multimedia:

- Streaming video (Netflix 4K) — HD Graphics 530 can handle it.

- Basic photo editing in Lightroom — yes, but with delays.

7. Comparison with Competitors

Intel Core i5-7600K (2017):

- 4 cores/4 threads.

- Geekbench 6: ~1300 (Single), ~3800 (Multi).

- Conclusion: The i7-6700K wins due to Hyper-Threading.

AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (2017):

- 6 cores/12 threads.

- Geekbench 6: ~1100 (Single), ~5500 (Multi).

- Conclusion: Ryzen is better for multi-threaded tasks but weaker in single-thread performance.

Modern Alternatives (2025):

Budget processors like Intel Core i3-14100F ($120) or AMD Ryzen 5 7500 ($180) offer more cores, PCIe 5.0, and DDR5.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboards: Look for remaining new boards on Amazon or eBay.

2. Cooling: The stock cooler will suffice, but consider a DeepCool Gammaxx 400 ($25) for overclocking.

3. Memory: 16 GB DDR4-2400 is optimal.

4. SSD: Make sure to install NVMe (via PCIe adapter if no M.2 slot is available).

Example Build for $300–400:

- CPU: i7-6700K ($150 new).

- Motherboard: ASUS H170-Pro ($90).

- Memory: 16 GB DDR4-2400 ($40).

- PSU: EVGA 500W ($50).

9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the i7-6700K?

This processor is worth considering for:

- Upgrading older PCs with LGA 1151.

- Budget office systems without multi-threading demands.

- Enthusiasts building retro PCs.

But: For new builds in 2025, it's better to choose modern processors that support DDR5 and PCIe 5.0.

Price of a new i7-6700K in 2025: $150–170 (remaining stock). Don’t overpay — for the same money, you can buy a more recent i3-14100F.

Final Verdict: The i7-6700K is a reliable choice for specific scenarios, but not for high workloads.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

August 2015

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i7-6700K

Code Name

SkyLake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

4.00 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

4.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

4.20 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

2.0

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

8 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1151

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

91 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-1866/2133 | DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

34.1 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® HD Graphics 530

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.15 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

8 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1479

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

4900

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

1066

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

4001

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2508

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

8937

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E-2126G

1583 +7%

Core i7-9850HE

1533 +3.7%

Core i7-6700K

1479

Core i3-1125G4

1426 -3.6%

Core i7-9850H

1379 -6.8%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-8600K

5536 +13%

Ryzen 5 PRO 5675U

5237 +6.9%

Core i7-6700K

4900

Xeon E5-2698 v3

4605 -6%

Xeon E3-1515M v5

4368 -10.9%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon W-3225

1111 +4.2%

Ryzen 9 3900X

1087 +2%

Core i7-6700K

1066

Athlon Gold 3150G

1043 -2.2%

Core i3-1005G1

1021 -4.2%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Ryzen 5 4600U

4458 +11.4%

Ryzen 3 4300G

4256 +6.4%

Core i7-6700K

4001

Pentium Gold G7400

3816 -4.6%

Xeon E5-1620 v4

3675 -8.1%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-10300H

2579 +2.8%

Xeon E-2186M

2551 +1.7%

Core i7-6700K

2508

Core i7-4790K

2465 -1.7%

Xeon E-2278GEL

2428 -3.2%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Xeon E-2324G

9771 +9.3%

Core i3-10305

9291 +4%

Core i7-6700K

8937

Ryzen 5 PRO 2400G with Radeon Vega 11 Graphics

8472 -5.2%

Ryzen 7 3750H

8167 -8.6%