Core i7-6700 vs Xeon E5-2660
Core i7-6700
Xeon E5-2660
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 i7-6700 is positioned at rank 650 and the Xeon E5-2660 is on rank 963, so the Core i7-6700 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6700
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2660
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6700 | Xeon E5-2660 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($143) | ✅ More affordable ($65) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6700 | Xeon E5-2660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+121%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($143) | ✅ More affordable ($65) |
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 i7-6700 and Xeon E5-2660
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.
Xeon E5-2660
The Xeon E5-2660 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 20480 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 8,067 points. Launch price was $85.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6700 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon E5-2660 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6700 versus 3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Core i7-6700 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Core i7-6700 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E5-2660 uses Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700 scores 8,048 against the Xeon E5-2660's 8,067 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon E5-2660. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700 vs 20480 kB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660.
| Feature | Core i7-6700 | Xeon E5-2660 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16+100% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+33% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+55% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 20480 kB (total)+150% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Sandy Bridge-EP (2012) |
| PassMark | 8,048 | 8,067 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6700 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2660 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6700 | Xeon E5-2660 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 384 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 4 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 40 |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-6700 launched at $303 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2660 debuted at $1329. At current prices ($143 vs $65), the Xeon E5-2660 is $78 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-6700 delivers 56.3 pts/$ vs 124.1 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2660 — making the Xeon E5-2660 the 75.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-6700 | Xeon E5-2660 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $303-77% | $1329 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $143 | $65-55% |
| Performance per Dollar | 56.3 | 124.1+120% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2012 |
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