Core i7-6700K vs Xeon E3-1280 v6
Core i7-6700K
Xeon E3-1280 v6
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 Xeon E3-1280 v6 is on rank 477, so the Xeon E3-1280 v6 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 Xeon E3-1280 v6
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Xeon E3-1280 v6
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.
Xeon E3-1280 v6
The Xeon E3-1280 v6 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 March 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, DDR3L-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 9,093 points. Launch price was $612.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-6700K and Xeon E3-1280 v6 share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-6700K versus 4.2 GHz on the Xeon E3-1280 v6 — identical boost frequencies (base: 4 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i7-6700K uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon E3-1280 v6 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700K scores 8,933 against the Xeon E3-1280 v6's 9,093 — a 1.8% lead for the Xeon E3-1280 v6. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700K vs 8 MB on the Xeon E3-1280 v6.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+3% | 3.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 8 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 8,933 | 9,093+2% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1151 |
| 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 (Xeon E3-1280 v6). The Core i7-6700K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Xeon E3-1280 v6 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-6700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon E3-1280 v6 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 530 | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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