Core i7-6500U vs FX-9830P

Core i7-6500U vs FX-9830P Performance Spectrum

Core i7-6500U

2 / 4

3,271

0.0%

3,298

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i7-6500U vs FX-9830P FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-6500U vs FX-9830P: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-6500U

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than FX-9830P across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,271 vs 3,298).

FX-9830P

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $150 MSRP, while Core i7-6500U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is FX-9830P better than Core i7-6500U?

Yes. FX-9830P is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, FX-9830P is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, FX-9830P is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

FX-9830P is the better buy right now. FX-9830P comes in at an unclear MSRP at $150 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (22.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

FX-9830P makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-6500U vs FX-9830P Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-6500U

The Core i7-6500U 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 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,271 points. Launch price was $393.

FX-9830P

The FX-9830P is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (per module). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,298 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-6500U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the FX-9830P offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the FX-9830P has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i7-6500U versus 3.7 GHz on the FX-9830P — a 17.6% clock advantage for the FX-9830P (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-6500U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the FX-9830P uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6500U scores 3,271 against the FX-9830P's 3,298 — a 0.8% lead for the FX-9830P.

Feature	Core i7-6500U	FX-9830P
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz	3.7 GHz+19%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3 GHz+20%
L3 Cache	4 MB	—
L2 Cache	512 kB	1 MB (per module)+100%
Process	14 nm-50%	28 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	3,271	3,298

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6500U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the FX-9830P uses FP4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.