Ryzen 7 5800X vs Core i7-6950X
Ryzen 7 5800X
Core i7-6950X
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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 5800X
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6950X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 7 5800X | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-E (2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 7 5800X | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+58%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 5800X and Core i7-6950X
Ryzen 7 5800X
The Ryzen 7 5800X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.7 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 27,712 points. Launch price was $449.
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.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 7 5800X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Core i7-6950X offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-6950X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.7 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5800X versus 4 GHz on the Core i7-6950X — a 16.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5800X (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Ryzen 7 5800X uses the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Core i7-6950X uses Broadwell-E (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 7 5800X scores 27,712 against the Core i7-6950X's 17,580 — a 44.7% lead for the Ryzen 7 5800X. L3 cache: 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 5800X vs 25 MB (total) on the Core i7-6950X.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 8 / 16 | 10 / 20+25% |
| Boost Clock | 4.7 GHz+18% | 4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+27% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32 MB+28% | 25 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) | Broadwell-E (2016) |
| PassMark | 27,712+58% | 17,580 |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 7 5800X uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i7-6950X uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-3200 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 24 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5800X) / not specified (Core i7-6950X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5800X targets Desktop.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | Yes | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 7 5800X launched at $449 MSRP, while the Core i7-6950X debuted at $1723. At current prices ($180 vs $180), the Core i7-6950X is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 7 5800X delivers 154.0 pts/$ vs 97.7 pts/$ for the Core i7-6950X — making the Ryzen 7 5800X the 44.7% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 7 5800X | Core i7-6950X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $449-74% | $1723 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $180 | $180 |
| Performance per Dollar | 154.0+58% | 97.7 |
| Release Date | 2020 | 2016 |
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