Core i7-6850K vs Ryzen 3 5425U
Core i7-6850K
Ryzen 3 5425U
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 Ryzen 3 5425U is on rank 499, so the Ryzen 3 5425U 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 Ryzen 3 5425U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6850K | Ryzen 3 5425U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Barcelo-U (Zen 3) (2022−2023) / 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6850K | Ryzen 3 5425U |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-6850K and Ryzen 3 5425U
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.
Ryzen 3 5425U
The Ryzen 3 5425U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Barcelo-U (Zen 3) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FP6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 11,270 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6850K packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Ryzen 3 5425U offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-6850K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6850K versus 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 3 5425U — a 2.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 3 5425U (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-6850K uses the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 3 5425U uses Barcelo-U (Zen 3) (2022−2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6850K scores 11,376 against the Ryzen 3 5425U's 11,270 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-6850K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,200 vs 1,663, a 32.3% lead for the Ryzen 3 5425U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,500 vs 4,701 (15.7% advantage for the Core i7-6850K). L3 cache: 15 MB (total) on the Core i7-6850K vs 8 MB (total) on the Ryzen 3 5425U.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Ryzen 3 5425U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12+50% | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz | 4.1 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+33% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 15 MB (total)+88% | 8 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Broadwell-E (2016) | Barcelo-U (Zen 3) (2022−2023) |
| PassMark | 11,376 | 11,270 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 5,761 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,200 | 1,663+39% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 5,500+17% | 4,701 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6850K uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 3 5425U uses FP6 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2400 memory speed. The Core i7-6850K supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Core i7-6850K) vs 2 (Ryzen 3 5425U). PCIe lanes: 40 (Core i7-6850K) vs 16 (Ryzen 3 5425U) — the Core i7-6850K offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: X99 (Core i7-6850K) and FP6 (Ryzen 3 5425U).
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Ryzen 3 5425U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | FP6 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+300% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 40+150% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-6850K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6850K) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 3 5425U). The Ryzen 3 5425U includes integrated graphics (Radeon RX Vega 6), while the Core i7-6850K requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-6850K targets HEDT, Ryzen 3 5425U targets Budget.
| Feature | Core i7-6850K | Ryzen 3 5425U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Radeon RX Vega 6 |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | HEDT | Budget |
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