Ryzen 7 1700 vs Core i7-6900K
Ryzen 7 1700
Core i7-6900K
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 Ryzen 7 1700
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6900K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 7 1700 | Core i7-6900K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($185) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,089) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen (2017−2020) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 7 1700 | Core i7-6900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+492%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($185) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,089) |
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 7 1700 and Core i7-6900K
Ryzen 7 1700
The Ryzen 7 1700 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 March 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: 16384 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,772 points. Launch price was $329.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 7 1700 and Core i7-6900K share an identical 8-core/16-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 1700 versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-6900K — a 7.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-6900K (base: 3 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 7 1700 uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-6900K uses Broadwell-E (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 1700 scores 14,772 against the Core i7-6900K's 14,682 — a 0.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 1700. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,000 vs 1,273, a 24% lead for the Core i7-6900K that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 5,000 vs 7,591 (41.2% advantage for the Core i7-6900K). L3 cache: 16384 kB on the Ryzen 7 1700 vs 20 MB (total) on the Core i7-6900K.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 1700 | Core i7-6900K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 4 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 16384 kB | 20 MB (total)+25% |
| L2 Cache | 4096 kB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen (2017−2020) | Broadwell-E (2016) |
| PassMark | 14,772 | 14,682 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 8,065 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,000 | 1,273+27% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 5,000 | 7,591+52% |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 7 1700 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6900K uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 7 1700) vs 4 (Core i7-6900K). PCIe lanes: 24 (Ryzen 7 1700) vs 40 (Core i7-6900K) — the Core i7-6900K offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: B350,X370,B450,X470,A520,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 1700) and X99 (Core i7-6900K).
| Feature | Ryzen 7 1700 | Core i7-6900K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | 40+67% |
Advanced Features
Both processors feature an unlocked multiplier for overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Ryzen 7 1700) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-6900K). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 1700 targets Workstation, Core i7-6900K targets High-End Desktop. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 1700 rivals Core i7-7700K.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 1700 | Core i7-6900K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | Yes | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Workstation | High-End Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 7 1700 launched at $140 MSRP, while the Core i7-6900K debuted at $1089. At current prices ($185 vs $1089), the Ryzen 7 1700 is $904 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 1700 delivers 79.8 pts/$ vs 13.5 pts/$ for the Core i7-6900K — making the Ryzen 7 1700 the 142.2% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 1700 | Core i7-6900K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $140-87% | $1089 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $185-83% | $1089 |
| Performance per Dollar | 79.8+491% | 13.5 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2016 |
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