
Core i7-860 vs Core i3-6100H

Core i7-860

Core i3-6100H
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 i7-860 is positioned at rank 986 and the Core i3-6100H is on rank 955, so the Core i3-6100H offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-860
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6100H
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-860 | Core i3-6100H |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Lynnfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-860 | Core i3-6100H |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 i7-860 and Core i3-6100H

Core i7-860
The Core i7-860 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,011 points. Launch price was $229.

Core i3-6100H
The Core i3-6100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,003 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Core i7-860 packs 4 cores / 8 threads, while the Core i3-6100H offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i7-860 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-860 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-6100H — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-860 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i7-860 uses the Lynnfield (2009−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-6100H uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-860 scores 3,011 against the Core i3-6100H's 3,003 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-860. L3 cache: 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-860 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6100H.
| Feature | Core i7-860 | Core i3-6100H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.46 GHz+28% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+4% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 8 MB (total)+167% | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Lynnfield (2009−2010) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,011 | 3,003 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-860 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-6100H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-860 | Core i3-6100H |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
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