Core i5-8250U vs Core i7-6700TE
Core i5-8250U
Core i7-6700TE
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 i5-8250U is positioned at rank 860 and the Core i7-6700TE is on rank 788, so the Core i7-6700TE offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-8250U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6700TE
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-6700TE |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-6700TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($175) |
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 i5-8250U and Core i7-6700TE
Core i5-8250U
The Core i5-8250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 6,158 points. Launch price was $297.
Core i7-6700TE
The Core i7-6700TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,203 points. Launch price was $303.
Processing Power
Both the Core i5-8250U and Core i7-6700TE share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i5-8250U versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-6700TE — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i5-8250U uses the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-6700TE uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-8250U scores 6,158 against the Core i7-6700TE's 6,203 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-6700TE. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,127 vs 914, a 20.9% lead for the Core i5-8250U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-8250U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700TE.
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-6700TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.4 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 6,158 | 6,203 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,127+23% | 914 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,244 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-8250U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6700TE uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Core i7-6700TE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i5-8250U) vs 16 (Core i7-6700TE) — the Core i7-6700TE offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Kaby Lake-R (Core i5-8250U) and 100-series (Core i7-6700TE).
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-6700TE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d, EPT virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 620 (Core i5-8250U) and HD Graphics 530 (Core i7-6700TE) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-8250U targets Mainstream Laptop, Core i7-6700TE targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-8250U rivals Ryzen 5 2500U; Core i7-6700TE rivals Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Core i5-8250U | Core i7-6700TE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 620 | HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Gaming |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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