CPU
GPU
Core i7-6850K
Core Ultra 5 115U
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 i7-6850K is positioned at rank 827 and the Core Ultra 5 115U is on rank 779, so the Core Ultra 5 115U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6850K
Performance Per Dollar Core Ultra 5 115U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6850K | Core Ultra 5 115U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Meteor Lake (2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6850K | Core Ultra 5 115U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ 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.
Path of Exile 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-6850K and Core Ultra 5 115U
Core i7-6850K
The Core i7-6850K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 15 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 11,376 points. Launch price was $475.
Core Ultra 5 115U
The Core Ultra 5 115U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake (2023) architecture. It features 8 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 10 MB. Memory support: DDR5 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 11,518 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6850K packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Core Ultra 5 115U offers 8 cores / 10 threads — the Core Ultra 5 115U has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6850K versus 4.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 115U — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 115U (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core i7-6850K uses the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core Ultra 5 115U uses Meteor Lake (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6850K scores 11,376 against the Core Ultra 5 115U's 11,518 — a 1.2% lead for the Core Ultra 5 115U. L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-6850K vs 10 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 115U.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Core Ultra 5 115U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 8 / 10+33% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.2 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+140% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+50% | 10 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (per core)+700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Broadwell-E (2016) | Meteor Lake (2023) |
| PassMark | 11,376 | 11,518+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 5,500 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6850K uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core Ultra 5 115U uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Core Ultra 5 115U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FCBGA2049 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 4 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 40 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6850K) / not specified (Core Ultra 5 115U). Primary use case: Core i7-6850K targets HEDT.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Core Ultra 5 115U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | HEDT | — |
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