Ryzen 5 7520U vs Core i7-6700K
Ryzen 5 7520U
Core i7-6700K
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
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 7520U | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) / 6 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 7520U | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($142) |
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 Ryzen 5 7520U and Core i7-6700K
Ryzen 5 7520U
The Ryzen 5 7520U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 9,063 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i7-6700K
The Core i7-6700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 4 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 91 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 8,933 points. Launch price was $339.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 5 7520U and Core i7-6700K share an identical 4-core/8-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.3 GHz on the Ryzen 5 7520U versus 4.2 GHz on the Core i7-6700K — a 2.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 7520U (base: 2.8 GHz vs 4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 7520U uses the Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) architecture (6 nm), while the Core i7-6700K uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 7520U scores 9,063 against the Core i7-6700K's 8,933 — a 1.4% lead for the Ryzen 5 7520U. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 7520U vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-6700K.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 7520U | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 4.3 GHz+2% | 4.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 4 GHz+43% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 6 nm-57% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Mendocino-U (Zen 2) (2022) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 9,063+1% | 8,933 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 4,527 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 797 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,744 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 7520U uses the FT6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-6700K uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches LPDDR5-5500 on the Ryzen 5 7520U versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i7-6700K — the Ryzen 5 7520U supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i7-6700K supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Ryzen 5 7520U) vs 16 (Core i7-6700K) — the Core i7-6700K offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 7520U | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT6 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR5-5500+25% | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 64 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-6700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 5 7520U) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6700K). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon 610M (Ryzen 5 7520U) and HD Graphics 530 (Core i7-6700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-6700K targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 7520U | Core i7-6700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon 610M | HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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