Core i7-6700HQ vs Xeon Silver 4112

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 Xeon Silver 4112 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 Xeon Silver 4112: 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

✅Draws 45W instead of 85W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (6,522 vs 6,536).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (6 MB vs 8.3 MB).

Xeon Silver 4112

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.
✅+37.5% larger total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 6 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $885 MSRP, while Core i7-6700HQ mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌88.9% higher power demand at 85W vs 45W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon Silver 4112 better than Core i7-6700HQ?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon Silver 4112 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i7-6700HQ is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon Silver 4112 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 37.5% larger total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 6 MB).

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

Xeon Silver 4112 is the better buy right now. Xeon Silver 4112 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $885 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-6700HQ is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Xeon Silver 4112 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015), 37.5% larger total L3 cache (8.3 MB vs 6 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 8 threads instead of 4/8. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i7-6700HQ vs Xeon Silver 4112 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.

Xeon Silver 4112

The Xeon Silver 4112 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 8.25 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 85 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 6,536 points. Launch price was $473.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-6700HQ and Xeon Silver 4112 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-6700HQ versus 3 GHz on the Xeon Silver 4112 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Core i7-6700HQ (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-6700HQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Silver 4112 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700HQ scores 6,522 against the Xeon Silver 4112's 6,536 — a 0.2% lead for the Xeon Silver 4112. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i7-6700HQ vs 8.25 MB on the Xeon Silver 4112.

Feature	Core i7-6700HQ	Xeon Silver 4112
Cores / Threads	4 / 8	4 / 8
Boost Clock	3.5 GHz+17%	3 GHz
Base Clock	2.6 GHz	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	6 MB	8.25 MB+38%
L2 Cache	1 MB	4 MB+300%
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)
PassMark	6,522	6,536

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-6700HQ uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Silver 4112 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.