Core i7-6900K vs Ryzen 7 PRO 1700
Core i7-6900K
Ryzen 7 PRO 1700
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6900K
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 PRO 1700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6900K | Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,089) | ✅ More affordable ($60) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6900K | Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1717%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,089) | ✅ More affordable ($60) |
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 i7-6900K and Ryzen 7 PRO 1700
Core i7-6900K
The Core i7-6900K 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 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 20 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: 14,682 points. Launch price was $1,020.
Ryzen 7 PRO 1700
The Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 29 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 14,699 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Core i7-6900K and Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6900K versus 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-6900K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i7-6900K uses the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 uses Zen (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6900K scores 14,682 against the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700's 14,699 — a 0.1% lead for the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700. L3 cache: 20 MB (total) on the Core i7-6900K vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700.
| Feature | Core i7-6900K | Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+8% | 3.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+7% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 20 MB (total)+25% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512K (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-E (2016) | Zen (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 14,682 | 14,699 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,273 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 7,591 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6900K uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6900K | Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| 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 i7-6900K) / not specified (Ryzen 7 PRO 1700). Primary use case: Core i7-6900K targets High-End Desktop.
| Feature | Core i7-6900K | Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | High-End Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i7-6900K launched at $1089 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 debuted at $329. At current prices ($1089 vs $60), the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 is $1029 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-6900K delivers 13.5 pts/$ vs 245.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 — making the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 the 179.1% better value option.
| Feature | Core i7-6900K | Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1089 | $329-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $1089 | $60-94% |
| Performance per Dollar | 13.5 | 245.0+1715% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2017 |
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