Core i7-6700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500
Core i7-6700K
Ryzen 5 PRO 1500
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 i7-6700K is positioned at rank 677 and the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is on rank 282, so the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6700K
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 PRO 1500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+188%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) | ✅ More affordable ($50) |
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 i7-6700K and Ryzen 5 PRO 1500
Core i7-6700K
The Core i7-6700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,933 points. Launch price was $339.
Ryzen 5 PRO 1500
The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 9,062 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-6700K and Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-6700K versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-6700K (base: 4 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-6700K uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700K scores 8,933 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500's 9,062 — a 1.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+14% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+14% | 3.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 16 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 8,933 | 9,062+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6700K) / not specified (Ryzen 5 PRO 1500). The Core i7-6700K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-6700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 530 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-6700K launched at $350 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 debuted at $189. At current prices ($142 vs $50), the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is $92 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-6700K delivers 62.9 pts/$ vs 181.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 the 96.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $350 | $189-46% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $142 | $50-65% |
| Performance per Dollar | 62.9 | 181.2+188% |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2017 |
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