Core i7-6660U vs Core i3-4170
Core i7-6660U
Core i3-4170
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 i7-6660U is positioned at rank 612 and the Core i3-4170 is on rank 585, so the Core i3-4170 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6660U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4170
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6660U | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6660U | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 i7-6660U and Core i3-4170
Core i7-6660U
The Core i7-6660U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 March 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,628 points. Launch price was $415.
Core i3-4170
The Core i3-4170 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,626 points. Launch price was $117.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-6660U and Core i3-4170 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-6660U versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i3-4170 — a 8.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-4170 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Core i7-6660U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-4170 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6660U scores 3,628 against the Core i3-4170's 3,626 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-6660U. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-6660U vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4170.
| Feature | Core i7-6660U | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.7 GHz+54% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 3,628 | 3,626 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,140 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,897 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6660U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4170 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6660U | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-6660U) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-4170). The Core i3-4170 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Core i7-6660U requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Core i7-6660U | Core i3-4170 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 4400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
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