Core i5-7600K vs Core i7-6820HQ
Core i5-7600K
Core i7-6820HQ
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 i5-7600K is positioned at rank 578 and the Core i7-6820HQ is on rank 58, so the Core i7-6820HQ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-7600K
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6820HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-7600K | Core i7-6820HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($84) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-7600K | Core i7-6820HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($84) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-7600K and Core i7-6820HQ
Core i5-7600K
The Core i5-7600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,813 points. Launch price was $242.
Core i7-6820HQ
The Core i7-6820HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,758 points. Launch price was $378.
Processing Power
The Core i5-7600K packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-6820HQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i5-7600K versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-6820HQ — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core i5-7600K (base: 3.8 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-7600K uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-6820HQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-7600K scores 6,813 against the Core i7-6820HQ's 6,758 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-7600K. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-7600K vs 8 MB on the Core i7-6820HQ.
| Feature | Core i5-7600K | Core i7-6820HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+17% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+41% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 6,813 | 6,758 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 4,143 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,100 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 3,800 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-7600K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6820HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-7600K | Core i7-6820HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-7600K) / not specified (Core i7-6820HQ). The Core i5-7600K includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 630), while the Core i7-6820HQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-7600K targets Gaming/Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-7600K | Core i7-6820HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Gaming/Desktop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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