Intel Core i7-6700K vs Intel Core i7-8700K

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CPU comparison with benchmarks

-VS-

CPU lineage

Intel Core i7-6700K or Intel Core i7-6700K – which processor offers superior performance? In this comparison, we examine disparities and assess which of these two CPUs outperforms the other. We delve into technical specifications and benchmark outcomes.
The Intel Core i7-6700K features 4 processor cores and has the capability to manage 8 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q3/2015 and belongs to the 6 generation of the Intel Core i7 series.
To use the Intel Core i7-6700K, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1151 socket.
The Intel Core i7-8700K features 6 processor cores and has the capability to manage 12 threads concurrently.
It was released in Q4/2017 and belongs to the 8 generation of the Intel Core i7 series.
To use the Intel Core i7-8700K, you'll need a motherboard with a LGA 1151-2 socket.
Intel Core i 6000 Group Intel Core i 8000
6 Generation 8
Desktop / Server Segment Desktop / Server
Intel Core i7-6700K Name Intel Core i7-8700K
Intel Core i7 Family Intel Core i7
 
 

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Intel Core i7-6700K has 4 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-6700K is 4.0 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 4.2 GHz.
The Intel Core i7-8700K has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel.
The clock frequency of the Intel Core i7-8700K is 3.7 GHz
and turbo frequency for one core is 4.7 GHz.
The number of CPU cores greatly affects the speed of the processor and is an important performance indicator.
8 Threads 12
4x Cores 6x
4 CPU Cores 6
normal Core architecture normal
Yes Hyperthreading Yes
Yes Overclocking Yes
4.2 GHz Turbo Frequency (1 core) 4.7 GHz
4.0 GHz Frequency 3.7 GHz
4.0 GHz Turbo Frequency (all cores) 4.3 GHz
 
 

Internal Graphics

The Intel Core i7-6700K has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i7-6700K uses the Intel HD Graphics 530, which has 192 texture shaders
and 24 execution units.
The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
The Intel Core i7-8700K has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short.
Specifically, the Intel Core i7-8700K uses the Intel UHD Graphics 630, which has 192 texture shaders
192 Shaders 192
Q3/2015 Release date Q4/2017
14 nm Technology 14 nm
12 Direct X 12
32.0 GB Max. GPU Memory 64.0 GB
-- Max. displays --
24 Execution units 24
0.35 GHz GPU frequency 0.35 GHz
9 Generation 9.5
1.15 GHz GPU (Turbo) 1.2 GHz
Intel HD Graphics 530 GPU name Intel UHD Graphics 630
 
 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

-- AI specifications --
-- AI hardware --
 
 

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
Decode / Encode VP8 Decode / Encode
Decode VC-1 Decode
Decode / Encode JPEG Decode / Encode
No AV1 No
Decode / Encode h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode AVC Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode h264 Decode / Encode
Decode VP9 Decode / Encode
Decode h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode / Encode
 
 

Memory & PCIe

The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 64.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
The processor supports a maximum memory capacity of 128.0 GB distributed across 2 memory channels. It offers a peak memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. Both the type and quantity of memory can have a substantial impact on the overall system performance.
pci PCIe pci
Yes AES-NI Yes
DDR4-2133, DDR3-1866 Memory type DDR4-2666
No ECC No
64.0 GB Max. Memory 128.0 GB
2 Memory channels 2
34.1 GB/s Bandwidth 42.7 GB/s
 
 

Thermal Management

The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 91 W watts.
TDP indicates the cooling solution needed to effectively manage the processor's heat. It generally provides an approximate indication of the actual power consumption of the CPU itself.
The processor has a thermal design power (TDP) of 95 W watts.
91 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 95 W
-- Tjunction max --
 
 

Technical details

The Intel Core i7-6700K is manufactured using a 14 nm process.
A smaller manufacturing process indicates a more contemporary and energy-efficient CPU.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 8.0 MB cache.
A substantial cache can significantly enhance the processor's performance, particularly in scenarios like gaming.
The Intel Core i7-8700K is manufactured using a 14 nm process.
In total, this processor boasts a generous 12.0 MB cache.
Q3/2015 Release date Q4/2017
VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d Virtualization VT-x, VT-x EPT, VT-d
SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2 ISA extensions SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX2
14 nm Technology 14 nm
Monolithic Chip design Monolithic
420 $ Release price 370 $
Skylake S Architecture Coffee Lake S
8.0 MB L3-Cache 12.0 MB
Windows 10, Linux Operating systems Windows 10, Linux, Windows 11
Technical data sheet Documents Technical data sheet
x86-64 (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) x86-64 (64 bit)
-- Part Number --
LGA 1151 Socket LGA 1151-2
0 bytes L2-Cache 0 bytes
 
 

Benchmarks

Geekbench 3, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
27445
27445
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
17028
17028

Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
8960
8960
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
5640
5640

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
6750
6750
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
4665
4665

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
6693
6693
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
4459
4459

V-Ray CPU-Render Benchmark

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
6635
6635
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
4407
4407

Geekbench 3, 64bit (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
5330
5330
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
4757
4757

CPU-Z Benchmark 17 (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
3709
3709
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
2313
2313

Cinebench R20 (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
3689
3689
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
2059
2059

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
1486
1486
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
1347
1347

Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
1447
1447
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
888
888

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
1242
1242
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
1151
1151

Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
1209
1209
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
1124
1124

Cinebench R20 (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
487
487
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
421
421

Blender 2.81 (bmw27)

Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
369.3
369.3
Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
232.4
232.4

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
208
208
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
180
180

Blender 3.1 Benchmark

Intel Core i7-8700K
6C 12T @ 3.7 GHz
126
126
Intel Core i7-6700K
4C 8T @ 4.0 GHz
82
82