Core i7-6700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500

Core i7-6700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 Performance Spectrum

Core i7-6700K

4 / 8

8,933

0.0%

9,062

+1.4%

Ryzen Threadripper 1950X

Ryzen 9 PRO 7945

Ryzen 9 9950X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX

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 i7-6700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 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 i7-6700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i7-6700K

2015

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 530, while Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (8,933 vs 9,062).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (8 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 25.5 vs 47.9 PassMark/$ ($350 MSRP vs $189 MSRP).
❌40% higher power demand at 91W vs 65W.

Ryzen 5 PRO 1500

2017

Why buy it

✅+1.4% higher PassMark.
✅+100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).
✅Costs $161 less on MSRP ($189 MSRP vs $350 MSRP).
✅Delivers 87.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 47.9 vs 25.5 PassMark/$ ($189 MSRP vs $350 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 91W, a 26W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-6700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 better than Core i7-6700K?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i7-6700K is ahead with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 pulls ahead with 1.4% better PassMark. Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 8 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 MB).

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

Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 comes in $161 cheaper on MSRP at $189 MSRP versus $350 MSRP, and it still gives you 1.4% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i7-6700K is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 87.9% better value on MSRP (47.9 vs 25.5 PassMark/$), 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 PRO 1500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015), 100% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 8 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 i7-6700K vs Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 Technical Specifications

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

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.

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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%

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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	No	—
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

At launch, the Core i7-6700K was priced at $350, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 came in at $189. On launch pricing ($350 vs $189), Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 was $161 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-6700K delivers 25.5 pts/$ vs 47.9 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 — making the Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 the 61% better value option.

Feature	Core i7-6700K	Ryzen 5 PRO 1500
MSRP	$350	$189-46%
Performance per Dollar	25.5	47.9+88%
Release Date	2015	2017

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