Question I5-7600k or i7-6700?

Apr 6, 2023
22
0
10
Which cpu is better? The i5-7600k or the i7-6700? I've heard that the I7 because of more threads but also the i5 for higher clock speed. Can someone help? I am upgrading from i5-7400 . Other specs being 32gb of ram and Rx 580 4gb
 
Single thread benchmark scores:

7400; 2098
6700k; 2512
7600k; 2562


multi thread:

7400; 5508
7600k; 6847
6700k; 8949


Virtually no difference between 6700k and 7600k on a single thread. Considerable difference on multi thread.

I suppose it depends on your typical tasks. Crossword puzzles? Mid level gaming? Scientific calculations?

How often and to what extent would multi thread performance be important to you?
 
Both are equal. Core i5 doesn't have hyperthreading but depending on a workload, HT isn't needed (e.g HT impacts gaming performance),
comparison: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-6700-vs-Intel-Core-i5-7600K/3515vs3885

Virtually no difference between 6700k and 7600k on a single thread.

OP is considering the non-K Core i7. Your results show the K-suffix Core i7. There's quite a bit diff between i7-6700 and i7-6700K,
comparison: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-6700-vs-Intel-Core-i7-6700K/3515vs3502

Other specs being 32gb of ram and Rx 580 4gb

MoBo chipset is? Since if you have Z-series MoBo, you can OC K-suffix CPUs (e.g the Core i5 you plan on going with).
 
Single thread benchmark scores:

7400; 2098
6700k; 2512
7600k; 2562


multi thread:

7400; 5508
7600k; 6847
6700k; 8949


Virtually no difference between 6700k and 7600k on a single thread. Considerable difference on multi thread.

I suppose it depends on your typical tasks. Crossword puzzles? Mid level gaming? Scientific calculations?

How often and to what extent would multi thread performance be important to you?
I play games and make projects but overall I care about fps and performance in-game, whichever gives me more fps, that's the one I will buy. And by the way, it is the locked i7
 
Both are equal. Core i5 doesn't have hyperthreading but depending on a workload, HT isn't needed (e.g HT impacts gaming performance),
comparison: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-6700-vs-Intel-Core-i5-7600K/3515vs3885



OP is considering the non-K Core i7. Your results show the K-suffix Core i7. There's quite a bit diff between i7-6700 and i7-6700K,
comparison: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-6700-vs-Intel-Core-i7-6700K/3515vs3502



MoBo chipset is? Since if you have Z-series MoBo, you can OC K-suffix CPUs (e.g the Core i5 you plan on going with).
My mobo is Asus prime b250m-a if that helps.
 
Pretty much all games can take advantage of hyperthreading. Straight quad cpus and even 6 cores in some cases are too easily saturated and loss of performance when that happens. No matter if single core performance is better for a non hyperthreaded cpu, it means nothing if primary core is pegged on 100% and can't do any more because it doesn't have another thread to back it up, as in another command can start before the other finishes.
 
Pretty much all games can take advantage of hyperthreading.

Not quite.

Back in the day, when Skylake was hot topic (2016), hyperthreading testing was done, to see if HT really helps with gaming and if gamer folks should go with i7-6700(K) over i5-6600(K).
Topic with results: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...rks-core-i7-6700k-hyperthreading-test.219417/

This is one of the reasons (among many), why my main build currently runs i5-6600K and not i7-6700K.

My mobo is Asus prime b250m-a if that helps.

B250 chipset MoBo = you can't OC your CPU, even if you go with unlocked multiplier CPU (K-series). So, there are less reasons of getting K-series CPU.
Solid options would be;
  • i5-7600
  • i7-7700

Price wise, it's hard to tell, but in pcpp, i7-7700 is ~40 bucks more than i5-7600K. While i5-7600 is ~80 bucks cheaper than i5-7600K.
Pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/dQM323,3pWrxr,9mRFf7/

Though, i7-7700K is the best what you (and i too) can have. It is 4c/8t CPU with nice 4.2 Ghz base and 4.5 Ghz turbo boost (and i can even OC it since i have Z-series MoBo). But there are downsides to it as well. Namely price. Back in the day, it was sought after and now, not many remain, jacking up the price. Of course, another thing is cooling the damn thing, since it's one of the hottest running chip ever made. Not on the level of i9-13900K that hovers around 95-100C but it's quite close.

i5-7400 vs i7-7700K: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-7400-vs-Intel-Core-i7-7700K/3886vs3647

However, with the price of Skylake/Kaby Lake i5/i7, you could go with Raptor Lake i3 (13th gen) + MoBo.

E.g this fine number;

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-13100 3.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($148.96 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B760M DS3H DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $258.95

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-04-09 20:59 EDT-0400


MoBo is DDR4, so you can reuse your RAM.
CPU wise, i5-7400 vs i3-13100: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-7400-vs-Intel-Core-i3-13100/3886vsm2011672
Far better than what you could get with i7-7700K.
 
Not quite.

Back in the day, when Skylake was hot topic (2016), hyperthreading testing was done, to see if HT really helps with gaming and if gamer folks should go with i7-6700(K) over i5-6600(K).
Topic with results: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...rks-core-i7-6700k-hyperthreading-test.219417/

This is one of the reasons (among many), why my main build currently runs i5-6600K and not i7-6700K.

Doom 2016 when i had 2600k @ 4.5, testing 4c had similar fps but had stutters due to usage being maxed out. Didn't have stutters at all with HT on as usage wasn't maxed. At least with 6700k HT can be disabled if it causes issues. Fps might be same but usage is far more important. 6600k, well, ya limited your choice there sorry to say.
 
Last edited:
@Aeacus hits on a very relevant point about this 'upgrade'. If you are paying the prices linked in that thread, there is zero reason not to consider going with something FAR newer. The linked update would be a very good improvement. No point in spending on a system that is not only outclassed by a lower model due to age, but also will go unsupported in '25 due to generation and W11 requirements.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KyaraM and Aeacus
Not quite.

Back in the day, when Skylake was hot topic (2016), hyperthreading testing was done, to see if HT really helps with gaming and if gamer folks should go with i7-6700(K) over i5-6600(K).
Topic with results: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...rks-core-i7-6700k-hyperthreading-test.219417/

This is one of the reasons (among many), why my main build currently runs i5-6600K and not i7-6700K.



B250 chipset MoBo = you can't OC your CPU, even if you go with unlocked multiplier CPU (K-series). So, there are less reasons of getting K-series CPU.
Solid options would be;
  • i5-7600
  • i7-7700
Price wise, it's hard to tell, but in pcpp, i7-7700 is ~40 bucks more than i5-7600K. While i5-7600 is ~80 bucks cheaper than i5-7600K.
Pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/dQM323,3pWrxr,9mRFf7/

Though, i7-7700K is the best what you (and i too) can have. It is 4c/8t CPU with nice 4.2 Ghz base and 4.5 Ghz turbo boost (and i can even OC it since i have Z-series MoBo). But there are downsides to it as well. Namely price. Back in the day, it was sought after and now, not many remain, jacking up the price. Of course, another thing is cooling the damn thing, since it's one of the hottest running chip ever made. Not on the level of i9-13900K that hovers around 95-100C but it's quite close.

i5-7400 vs i7-7700K: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-7400-vs-Intel-Core-i7-7700K/3886vs3647

However, with the price of Skylake/Kaby Lake i5/i7, you could go with Raptor Lake i3 (13th gen) + MoBo.

E.g this fine number;

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-13100 3.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($148.96 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B760M DS3H DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $258.95

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-04-09 20:59 EDT-0400


MoBo is DDR4, so you can reuse your RAM.
CPU wise, i5-7400 vs i3-13100: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i5-7400-vs-Intel-Core-i3-13100/3886vsm2011672
Far better than what you could get with i7-7700K.
Or go with the 12100 instead since there is basically no difference in gaming except for games with FPS past 130 anyways, yet that chip is up to $50 cheaper.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKLeZYr08Uc


That with a good B660 mainboard would cost you about $200 for essentially indistinguishable performance difference with even most more modern GPUs than an RX580. It's enough of a difference that you can even add decent DDR4-3200 or DDR-3600 RAM and still pay less than the combo you proposed. Plus the same upgrade path.