Intel Core i7-9700K vs Intel Core i7-6900K

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i7-9700K and Intel Core i7-6900K processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Graphics image quality, Graphics API support, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. 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 i7-9700K

Intel Core i7-6900K

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-9700K

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 5 month(s) later
Around 32% higher clock speed: 4.90 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 47% lower typical power consumption: 95 Watt vs 140 Watt
Around 23% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2876 vs 2329
Around 30% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 1306 vs 1005
Around 9% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 195.695 vs 179.127
Around 5% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 5.449 vs 5.194
Around 15% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 15.67 vs 13.602

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	October 2018 vs May 2016
Maximum frequency	4.90 GHz vs 3.70 GHz
L1 cache	64K (per core) vs 32 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt vs 140 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2876 vs 2329
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1306 vs 1005
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	195.695 vs 179.127
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.449 vs 5.194
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	15.67 vs 13.602

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-6900K

8 more threads: 16 vs 8
Around 67% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
Around 7% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 7893 vs 7386
Around 50% better performance in 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score: 8778 vs 5855
Around 14% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 10.395 vs 9.136
Around 18% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 1.3 vs 1.105

Specifications (specs)
Number of threads	16 vs 8
L3 cache	20480 KB (shared) vs 12 MB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	14476 vs 14460
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7893 vs 7386
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	8778 vs 5855
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	10.395 vs 9.136
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.3 vs 1.105

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i7-9700K
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-6900K

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2876

2329

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

14460

14476

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

1306

1005

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

7386

7893

3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score

CPU 1

CPU 2

5855

8778

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

9.136

10.395

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

195.695

179.127

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

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.105

1.3

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.449

5.194

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

15.67

13.602

Name	Intel Core i7-9700K	Intel Core i7-6900K
PassMark - Single thread mark	2876	2329
PassMark - CPU mark	14460	14476
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	1306	1005
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	7386	7893
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	5855	8778
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	9.136	10.395
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	195.695	179.127
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	1.105	1.3
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	5.449	5.194
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	15.67	13.602
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Frames)	2156
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Frames)	1155
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Frames)	2066
GFXBench 4.0 - Car Chase Offscreen (Fps)	2156
GFXBench 4.0 - Manhattan (Fps)	1155
GFXBench 4.0 - T-Rex (Fps)	2066

Compare specifications (specs)

	Intel Core i7-9700K	Intel Core i7-6900K
Essentials
Architecture codename	Coffee Lake	Broadwell E
Launch date	October 2018	May 2016
Place in performance rating	1406	1400
Price now	$409.99	$1,198.99
Processor Number	i7-9700K	i7-6900K
Series	9th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processors	Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
Status	Launched	Discontinued
Value for money (0-100)	12.64	4.35
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Launch price (MSRP)		$1,020
Performance
64 bit support
Base frequency	3.60 GHz	3.20 GHz
Bus Speed	8 GT/s DMI3
L1 cache	64K (per core)	32 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256K (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	12 MB (shared)	20480 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	14 nm	14 nm
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	72 °C
Maximum core temperature	100°C
Maximum frequency	4.90 GHz	3.70 GHz
Number of cores	8	8
Number of threads	8	16
Unlocked
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	41.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	128 GB	128 GB
Supported memory types	DDR4-2666	DDR4 2400/2133
Graphics
Device ID	0x3E98
Graphics base frequency	350 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency	1.20 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Clear Video technology
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Max video memory	64 GB
Processor graphics	Intel® UHD Graphics 630	None
Graphics interfaces
Number of displays supported	3
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
Graphics API support
DirectX	12
OpenGL	4.5
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Package Size	37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported	FCLGA1151	FCLGA2011-3
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	95 Watt	140 Watt
Thermal Solution	PCG 2015D (130W)
Low Halogen Options Available
Peripherals
Max number of PCIe lanes	16	40
PCI Express revision	3.0	3.0
PCIe configurations	Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4
Scalability	1S Only	1S Only
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Intel® OS Guard
Intel® Secure Key technology
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Secure Boot
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
Intel 64
Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX)
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Supported
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
Intel® TSX-NI
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring
Intel® Smart Response technology
Turbo Boost Max 3.0
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)