Intel Core i7-6900K vs Intel Core i7-4790K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-6900K and Intel Core i7-4790K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames), GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps), GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps).

Intel Core i7-6900K

Intel Core i7-4790K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6900K

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 10 month(s) later
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 4
8 more threads: 16 vs 8
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 14 nm vs 22 nm
2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.5x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 32 GB
Around 79% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 14431 vs 8069
Around 98% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 7893 vs 3995
3.1x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 8778 vs 2818
Around 75% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 10.395 vs 5.95
Around 79% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 179.127 vs 100.106
Around 87% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.3 vs 0.695
Around 85% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 5.194 vs 2.814
Around 90% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 13.602 vs 7.147

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	May 2016 vs 1 June 2013
Number of cores	8 vs 4
Number of threads	16 vs 8
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm vs 22 nm
L2 cache	256 KB (per core) vs 1 MB
L3 cache	20480 KB (shared) vs 8 MB
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 32 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	14431 vs 8069
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7893 vs 3995
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	8778 vs 2818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	10.395 vs 5.95
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	179.127 vs 100.106
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.3 vs 0.695
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.194 vs 2.814
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	13.602 vs 7.147

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-4790K

Around 19% higher clock speed: 4.40 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Around 59% lower typical power consumption: 88 Watt vs 140 Watt
Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2466 vs 2321
Around 6% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1070 vs 1005

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	4.40 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	88 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2466 vs 2321
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1070 vs 1005

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-6900K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-4790K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2321

2466

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

14431

8069

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1005

1070

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

7893

3995

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

8778

2818

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

10.395

5.95

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

179.127

100.106

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.3

0.695

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.194

2.814

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

13.602

7.147

Name	Intel Core i7-6900K	Intel Core i7-4790K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2321	2466
PassMark - CPU mark	14431	8069
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1005	1070
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7893	3995
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	8778	2818
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	10.395	5.95
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	179.127	100.106
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.3	0.695
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.194	2.814
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	13.602	7.147
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		1279
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)		2489
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		3454
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		1279
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)		2489
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		3454

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-6900K	Intel Core i7-4790K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Broadwell E	Devil's Canyon
Launch date	May 2016	1 June 2013
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,020	$339
Place in performance rating	1325	1529
Price now	$1,198.99	$306.99
Processor Number	i7-6900K	i7-4790K
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	4.35	10.73
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.20 GHz	4.00 GHz
L1 cache	32 KB (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	1 MB
L3 cache	20480 KB (shared)	8 MB
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	22 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
Maximum frequency	3.70 GHz	4.40 GHz
Number of cores	8	4
Number of threads	16	8
Unlocked
Bus Speed		5 GT/s DMI2
Die size		177 mm
Maximum core temperature		74.04°C
Transistor count		1400 Million
Memory
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory size	128 GB	32 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4 2400/2133	DDR3-1333/1600, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.5V
Maximum memory bandwidth		25.6 GB/s
Graphics
Processor graphics	None	Intel® HD Graphics 4600
Device ID		0x412
Execution Units		20
Graphics base frequency		350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.25 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.25 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory		2 GB
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011-3	FCLGA1150
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	140 Watt	88 Watt
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Thermal Solution		PCG 2013D
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	40	16
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
PCIe configurations		Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Anti-Theft technology
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Smart Response technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
Intel® My WiFi technology
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
AMD Virtualization (AMD-V™)
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
DVI
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported		3
VGA
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Graphics image quality
Max resolution over DisplayPort		3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP		3840x2160@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4		3840x2160@24Hz
Max resolution over VGA		1920x1200@60Hz
Graphics API support
DirectX		11.2/12
OpenGL		4.3