Core i5-1038NG7 vs Core i7-6700K
Core i5-1038NG7
Core i7-6700K
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Core i5-1038NG7 is positioned at rank 740 and the Core i7-6700K is on rank 677, so the Core i7-6700K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-1038NG7
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-1038NG7 | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) / 10 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-1038NG7 | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-1038NG7 and Core i7-6700K
Core i5-1038NG7
The Core i5-1038NG7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1344. Thermal design power (TDP): 28 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200, LPDDR4-3733. Passmark benchmark score: 8,823 points. Launch price was $320.
Core i7-6700K
The Core i7-6700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,933 points. Launch price was $339.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-1038NG7 and Core i7-6700K share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Core i5-1038NG7 versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-6700K — a 10% clock advantage for the Core i7-6700K (base: 2 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Core i5-1038NG7 uses the Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i7-6700K uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-1038NG7 scores 8,823 against the Core i7-6700K's 8,933 — a 1.2% lead for the Core i7-6700K. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-1038NG7 vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700K.
| Feature | Core i5-1038NG7 | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz | 4.2 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 4 GHz+100% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Ice Lake-U (2019−2020) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 8,823 | 8,933+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,250 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-1038NG7 uses the FCBGA1344 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR4-3733 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.
| Feature | Core i5-1038NG7 | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1344 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR4-3733 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-6700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Core i5-1038NG7 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-1038NG7) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6700K). Both include integrated graphics — Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Core i5-1038NG7) and HD Graphics 530 (Core i7-6700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-1038NG7 targets Premium Laptop, Core i7-6700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-1038NG7 rivals Ryzen 7 4800U.
| Feature | Core i5-1038NG7 | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Iris Plus Graphics G7 | HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | Yes | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Premium Laptop | Desktop |
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