CPU
GPU
Core i7-5600U
A8-6600K
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 i7-5600U is positioned at rank 341 and the A8-6600K is on rank 426, so the Core i7-5600U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-5600U
Performance Per Dollar A8-6600K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-5600U | A8-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-5600U | A8-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i7-5600U and A8-6600K
Core i7-5600U
The Core i7-5600U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,011 points. Launch price was $393.
A8-6600K
The A8-6600K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 3,002 points. Launch price was $142.
Processing Power
The Core i7-5600U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-6600K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-6600K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i7-5600U versus 4.2 GHz on the A8-6600K — a 27% clock advantage for the A8-6600K (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i7-5600U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-6600K uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-5600U scores 3,011 against the A8-6600K's 3,002 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-5600U. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-5600U vs 0 kB on the A8-6600K.
| Feature | Core i7-5600U | A8-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.2 GHz+31% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.9 GHz+50% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4096 kB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 3,011 | 3,002 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-5600U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-6600K uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-5600U | A8-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-5600U) / true (A8-6600K). The A8-6600K includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8570D), while the Core i7-5600U requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-6600K rivals Core i3-4130.
| Feature | Core i7-5600U | A8-6600K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8570D |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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