Core i7-6820HK vs Xeon X5690
Core i7-6820HK
Xeon X5690
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 i7-6820HK is positioned at rank 911 and the Xeon X5690 is on rank 514, so the Xeon X5690 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6820HK
Performance Per Dollar Xeon X5690
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6820HK | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) | ✅ More affordable ($250) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere-EP (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6820HK | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+52%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($378) | ✅ More affordable ($250) |
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 i7-6820HK and Xeon X5690
Core i7-6820HK
The Core i7-6820HK 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 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 8 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: 7,012 points. Launch price was $378.
Xeon X5690
The Xeon X5690 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Westmere-EP (2010−2011) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.46 GHz, with boost up to 3.73 GHz. L3 cache: 12288 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1366. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 7,031 points. Launch price was $205.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6820HK packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Xeon X5690 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Xeon X5690 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i7-6820HK versus 3.73 GHz on the Xeon X5690 — a 3.5% clock advantage for the Xeon X5690 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.46 GHz). The Core i7-6820HK uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon X5690 uses Westmere-EP (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6820HK scores 7,012 against the Xeon X5690's 7,031 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon X5690. L3 cache: 8 MB on the Core i7-6820HK vs 12288 kB (total) on the Xeon X5690.
| Feature | Core i7-6820HK | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 6 / 12+50% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.73 GHz+4% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.46 GHz+28% |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB | 12288 kB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Westmere-EP (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 7,012 | 7,031 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 3,000 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6820HK uses the BGA1440 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon X5690 uses LGA1366 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6820HK | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1440 | LGA1366 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| RAM Channels | — | 3 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-6820HK) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Xeon X5690). Primary use case: Xeon X5690 targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Xeon X5690 rivals Core i7-980X.
| Feature | Core i7-6820HK | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-6820HK launched at $378 MSRP, while the Xeon X5690 debuted at $250.
| Feature | Core i7-6820HK | Xeon X5690 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $378 | $250-34% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $250 |
| Release Date | 2015 | 2011 |
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