Core i7-6950X vs Xeon Phi 7290
Core i7-6950X
Xeon Phi 7290
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 i7-6950X
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Phi 7290
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6950X | Xeon Phi 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Knights Landing (2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6950X | Xeon Phi 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($180) | ✅ 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 i7-6950X and Xeon Phi 7290
Core i7-6950X
The Core i7-6950X 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 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,580 points. Launch price was $1,723.
Xeon Phi 7290
The Xeon Phi 7290 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Knights Landing (2016) architecture. It features 72 cores and 288 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 245 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 17,839 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6950X packs 10 cores / 20 threads, while the Xeon Phi 7290 offers 72 cores / 288 threads — the Xeon Phi 7290 has 62 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Core i7-6950X versus 1.7 GHz on the Xeon Phi 7290 — a 80.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-6950X (base: 3 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core i7-6950X uses the Broadwell-E (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses Knights Landing (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6950X scores 17,580 against the Xeon Phi 7290's 17,839 — a 1.5% lead for the Xeon Phi 7290. L3 cache: 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-6950X vs 0 kB (total) on the Xeon Phi 7290.
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Xeon Phi 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 10 / 20 | 72 / 288+620% |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+135% | 1.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+100% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 25 MB (total) | 0 kB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-E (2016) | Knights Landing (2016) |
| PassMark | 17,580 | 17,839+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6950X uses the LGA2011 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon Phi 7290 uses LGA3647 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6950X | Xeon Phi 7290 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011 | LGA3647 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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