Core i7-6700HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U

Core i7-6700HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U Performance Spectrum

Core i7-6700HQ

4 / 8

6,522

+0.4%

6,494

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 3970X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7965WX

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 i7-6700HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U 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 i7-6700HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-6700HQ

2015

Why buy it

✅+0.4% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌200% higher power demand at 45W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Ryzen 5 2500U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Ryzen 5 2500U

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 45W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon Vega 8, while Core i7-6700HQ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,494 vs 6,522).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $349 MSRP, while Core i7-6700HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 2500U better than Core i7-6700HQ?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Ryzen 5 2500U is ahead with a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-6700HQ pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark. Core i7-6700HQ also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-6700HQ is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 2500U is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 2500U comes in at an unclear MSRP at $349 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Core i7-6700HQ is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.4% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (18.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 2500U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i7-6700HQ vs Ryzen 5 2500U Technical Specifications

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

Core i7-6700HQ

The Core i7-6700HQ 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 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,522 points. Launch price was $378.

Ryzen 5 2500U

The Ryzen 5 2500U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 26 October 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Raven Ridge (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,494 points. Launch price was $149.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i7-6700HQ and Ryzen 5 2500U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-6700HQ versus 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2500U — a 2.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 2500U (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i7-6700HQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 2500U uses Raven Ridge (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700HQ scores 6,522 against the Ryzen 5 2500U's 6,494 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i7-6700HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i7-6700HQ vs 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2500U.

Feature	Core i7-6700HQ	Ryzen 5 2500U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.6 GHz+3%
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+30%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB+50%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Raven Ridge (2017−2019)
PassMark	6,522	6,494
Geekbench 6 Single	—	818
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	2,310

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6700HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 2500U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-6700HQ	Ryzen 5 2500U
Socket	BGA1440	FP5
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-6700HQ) / AMD-V (Ryzen 5 2500U). The Ryzen 5 2500U includes integrated graphics (Radeon Vega 8), while the Core i7-6700HQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2500U targets Mainstream Laptop.