Core i7-6700 vs Core i7-8709G

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-6700

2015

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $35 less on MSRP ($303 MSRP vs $338 MSRP).
✅Delivers 13.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 26.6 vs 23.5 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $338 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 100W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i7-8709G

2018

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,934 vs 8,048).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.5 vs 26.6 PassMark/$ ($338 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
❌53.8% higher power demand at 100W vs 65W.

Core i7-6700

2015

Core i7-8709G

2018

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅Costs $35 less on MSRP ($303 MSRP vs $338 MSRP).
✅Delivers 13.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 26.6 vs 23.5 PassMark/$ ($303 MSRP vs $338 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 100W, a 35W reduction.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (7,934 vs 8,048).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 23.5 vs 26.6 PassMark/$ ($338 MSRP vs $303 MSRP).
❌53.8% higher power demand at 100W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-6700 better than Core i7-8709G?

It depends on what matters more to you. For gaming, Core i7-8709G is ahead with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-6700 pulls ahead with 1.4% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-6700 is the better fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads.

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

Core i7-6700 is the smarter buy today. Core i7-6700 is $35 cheaper on MSRP at $303 MSRP versus $338 MSRP, and it gives you 1.4% better PassMark. The trade-off is that Core i7-8709G is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 13.2% better value on MSRP (26.6 vs 23.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

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

Core i7-8709G is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2018 vs 2015). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i7-6700 Benchmark Check

Core i7-8709G Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-6700	Core i7-8709G
1080p
low	171 FPS	188 FPS
medium	136 FPS	149 FPS
high	109 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	93 FPS
1440p
low	147 FPS	151 FPS
medium	116 FPS	118 FPS
high	92 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	73 FPS
4K
low	67 FPS	71 FPS
medium	57 FPS	59 FPS
high	44 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	37 FPS

Open Core i7-6700 Open Core i7-8709G

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-6700	Core i7-8709G
1080p
low	201 FPS	198 FPS
medium	176 FPS	198 FPS
high	160 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	178 FPS	198 FPS
medium	153 FPS	198 FPS
high	138 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	111 FPS	169 FPS
4K
low	140 FPS	198 FPS
medium	124 FPS	176 FPS
high	101 FPS	146 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	121 FPS

Open Core i7-6700 Open Core i7-8709G

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-6700	Core i7-8709G
1080p
low	201 FPS	198 FPS
medium	201 FPS	198 FPS
high	201 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	201 FPS	198 FPS
medium	201 FPS	198 FPS
high	201 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	198 FPS
4K
low	201 FPS	198 FPS
medium	201 FPS	198 FPS
high	201 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	198 FPS

Open Core i7-6700 Open Core i7-8709G

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-6700	Core i7-8709G
1080p
low	201 FPS	198 FPS
medium	201 FPS	198 FPS
high	201 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	201 FPS	198 FPS
medium	201 FPS	198 FPS
high	201 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	198 FPS
4K
low	201 FPS	198 FPS
medium	201 FPS	198 FPS
high	201 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	198 FPS

Open Core i7-6700 Open Core i7-8709G

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-6700 and Core i7-8709G

Core i7-6700

The Core i7-6700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,048 points. Launch price was $303.

Core i7-8709G

The Core i7-8709G is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake G (2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2270. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 7,934 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-6700 and Core i7-8709G share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6700 versus 4.1 GHz on the Core i7-8709G — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-8709G (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-6700 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-8709G uses Kaby Lake G (2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700 scores 8,048 against the Core i7-8709G's 7,934 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i7-6700. Both processors carry 8 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-6700	Core i7-8709G
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	4 GHz	4.1 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+10%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	8 MB (total)	8 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Kaby Lake G (2018)
PassMark	8,048+1%	7,934

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-8709G uses FCBGA2270 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-6700	Core i7-8709G
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA2270
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0

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Value Analysis

The Core i7-6700 launched at $303 MSRP, while the Core i7-8709G debuted at $338. On MSRP ($303 vs $338), the Core i7-6700 is $35 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-6700 delivers 26.6 pts/$ vs 23.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-8709G — making the Core i7-6700 the 12.3% better value option.