Intel Core i7-6950X vs Intel Core i3-6100

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-6950X and Intel Core i3-6100 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 i7-6950X

Intel Core i3-6100

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6950X

CPU is newer: launch date 6 month(s) later
Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
8 more cores, run more applications at once: 10 vs 2
16 more threads: 20 vs 4
2.5x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
5x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
6.3x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
2x more maximum memory size: 128 GB vs 64 GB
Around 7% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2329 vs 2182
4.2x better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 17353 vs 4137
Around 8% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 977 vs 906
4.6x better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 9071 vs 1976
2.8x better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 6073 vs 2197
4.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 10.499 vs 2.581
7.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 369.449 vs 47.944
4.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.263 vs 0.3
3.8x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 5.312 vs 1.387
4.1x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 14.075 vs 3.445

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	10 March 2016 vs September 2015
Unlocked	Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores	10 vs 2
Number of threads	20 vs 4
L1 cache	320 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2.5 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	25 MB vs 4096 KB (shared)
Maximum memory size	128 GB vs 64 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2329 vs 2182
PassMark - CPU mark	17353 vs 4137
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	977 vs 906
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	9071 vs 1976
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6073 vs 2197
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	10.499 vs 2.581
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	369.449 vs 47.944
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.263 vs 0.3
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.312 vs 1.387
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	14.075 vs 3.445

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-6100

Around 6% higher clock speed: 3.7 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
2.7x lower typical power consumption: 51 Watt vs 140 Watt

Maximum frequency	3.7 GHz vs 3.50 GHz
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	51 Watt vs 140 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-6950X
CPU 2: Intel Core i3-6100

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2329

2182

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

17353

4137

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

977

906

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

9071

1976

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

6073

2197

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

10.499

2.581

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

369.449

47.944

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.263

0.3

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.312

1.387

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

14.075

3.445

Name	Intel Core i7-6950X	Intel Core i3-6100
PassMark - Single thread mark	2329	2182
PassMark - CPU mark	17353	4137
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	977	906
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	9071	1976
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	6073	2197
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	10.499	2.581
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	369.449	47.944
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.263	0.3
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.312	1.387
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	14.075	3.445
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)		1558
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)		3264
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)		5567
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)		1558
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)		3264
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)		5567

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-6950X	Intel Core i3-6100
Essentials
Architecture codename	Broadwell E	Skylake
Launch date	10 March 2016	September 2015
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,723	$110
Place in performance rating	1452	1458
Price now	$1,575.99	$147.49
Processor Number	i7-6950X	i3-6100
Series	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors	6th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors
Status	Discontinued	Launched
Value for money (0-100)	3.73	10.96
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.00 GHz	3.70 GHz
Die size	246 mm	150 mm
Front-side bus (FSB)	9.6 GT / s / QPI
L1 cache	320 KB	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	2.5 MB	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	25 MB	4096 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	65 °C
Maximum frequency	3.50 GHz	3.7 GHz
Number of cores	10	2
Number of threads	20	4
Transistor count	3200 Million	1400 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed		8 GT/s DMI3
Maximum core temperature		65°C
Memory
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory size	128 GB	64 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4 2400/2133	DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V
ECC memory support
Maximum memory bandwidth		34.1 GB/s
Graphics
Processor graphics	None	Intel® HD Graphics 530
Device ID		0x1912
Graphics base frequency		350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency		1.05 GHz
Graphics max frequency		1.05 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory		64 GB
Compatibility
Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	FCLGA2011-3	FCLGA1151
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	140 Watt	51 Watt
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Thermal Solution		PCG 2015C (65W)
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)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Secure Boot
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
Instruction set extensions		Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
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)
Graphics interfaces
DisplayPort
DVI
eDP
HDMI
Number of displays supported		3
Wireless Display (WiDi) support
Graphics image quality
4K resolution support
Max resolution over DisplayPort		4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over eDP		4096x2304@60Hz
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4		4096x2304@24Hz
Max resolution over VGA		N / A
Max resolution over WiDi		1080p
Graphics API support
DirectX		12
OpenGL		4.5