Core i7-6700HQ vs Ryzen 5 3450U

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i7-6700HQ

4 / 8

6,522

0.0%

6,550

+0.4%

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i7-6700HQ is positioned at rank #937 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6700HQ

#925

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

1701%

#926

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

1676%

#927

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

1539%

#928

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

1532%

#929

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

1518%

#931

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

1466%

#932

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

1405%

#933

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

1403%

#934

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

1365%

#937

Core i7-6700HQ

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#939

FX-7600P

MSRP: $150|Avg: $45

99%

#940

Athlon II M300

MSRP: $100|Avg: $10

99%

#944

Athlon Neo X2 L335

MSRP: $80|Avg: $15

96%

#945

Core i7-3610QE

MSRP: $315|Avg: $105

96%

#948

A8-8600P

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

95%

#950

FX-9800P

MSRP: $150|Avg: $45

95%

#951

Celeron 1020E

MSRP: $86|Avg: $20

95%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Ryzen 5 3450U (2020) utilizes 12 nm technology and DDR4, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Core i7-6700HQ	Ryzen 5 3450U
Gaming	Balanced gaming performance	Balanced gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm)	✨ Modern (Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) / 12 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i7-6700HQ (2015) relies on 14 nm technology and DDR3, DDR4, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Core i7-6700HQ	Ryzen 5 3450U
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

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 i7-6700HQ Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 3450U Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-6700HQ and Ryzen 5 3450U

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 3450U

The Ryzen 5 3450U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 May 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: FP5. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 6,550 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-6700HQ and Ryzen 5 3450U share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-6700HQ versus 3.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3450U — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i7-6700HQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3450U uses Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020) (12 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700HQ scores 6,522 against the Ryzen 5 3450U's 6,550 — a 0.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 3450U. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i7-6700HQ vs 4 MB on the Ryzen 5 3450U.

Feature	Core i7-6700HQ	Ryzen 5 3450U
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz+24%	2.1 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB+50%	4 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%
Process	14 nm	12 nm-14%
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Picasso-U (Zen+) (2019−2020)
PassMark	6,522	6,550

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6700HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3450U uses FP5 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.