Core i7-7820X vs Ryzen 5 6600U

Core i7-7820X vs Ryzen 5 6600U Performance Spectrum

Core i7-7820X

8 / 16

17,171

+1.1%

16,992

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Core i7-7820X vs Ryzen 5 6600U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i7-7820X vs Ryzen 5 6600U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i7-7820X

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +19.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (11 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $599 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 6600U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌833.3% higher power demand at 140W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 6600U moves to FP7 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 6600U

2022

Why buy it

✅+45.5% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 11 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 140W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-7820X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,992 vs 17,171).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-7820X better than Ryzen 5 6600U?

Yes. Core i7-7820X is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 19.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.1% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-7820X is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 19.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-7820X is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-7820X is the better buy right now. Core i7-7820X comes in at an unclear MSRP at $599 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 19.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (28.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 6600U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2017), a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and 45.5% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 11 MB). That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Core i7-7820X vs Ryzen 5 6600U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i7-7820X

The Core i7-7820X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 17,171 points. Launch price was $599.

Ryzen 5 6600U

The Ryzen 5 6600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,992 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-7820X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 6600U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-7820X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7820X versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 6600U — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-7820X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 6600U uses Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7820X scores 17,171 against the Ryzen 5 6600U's 16,992 — a 1% lead for the Core i7-7820X. L3 cache: 11 MB (total) on the Core i7-7820X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 6600U.

Feature	Core i7-7820X	Ryzen 5 6600U
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+24%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	11 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+45%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	14 nm	6 nm-57%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	17,171+1%	16,992

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-7820X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 6600U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.