Core i7-6700K vs Xeon Gold 5122
Core i7-6700K
Xeon Gold 5122
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 Gold 5122 is on rank 489, so the Xeon Gold 5122 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 Gold 5122
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6700K | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Gold 5122
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 Gold 5122
The Xeon Gold 5122 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16.5 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 8,867 points. Launch price was $1,221.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-6700K and Xeon Gold 5122 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 Xeon Gold 5122 — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-6700K (base: 4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-6700K uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Gold 5122 uses Skylake (server) (2017−2018) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6700K scores 8,933 against the Xeon Gold 5122's 8,867 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-6700K. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700K vs 16.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 5122.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz+14% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 4 GHz+11% | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total) | 16.5 MB+106% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) |
| PassMark | 8,933 | 8,867 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6700K uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Gold 5122 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA3647 |
| 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 Gold 5122). The Core i7-6700K includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Xeon Gold 5122 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-6700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-6700K | Xeon Gold 5122 |
|---|---|---|
| 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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