Core i7-2660M vs Core i3-6300

Primary details

Comparing Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking	1582	not rated
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	5.78	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i3	Intel Core i7
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Release date	1 September 2015 (8 years ago)	no data
Launch price (MSRP)	$147	no data
Current price	$75 (0.5x MSRP)	$618

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores	2 (Dual-core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	4	4
Base clock speed	3.8 GHz	no data
Boost clock speed	3.8 GHz	2.9 GHz
Bus support	4 × 8 GT/s	4 × 5 GT/s
L1 cache	64K (per core)	128 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	512 KB
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	4 MB
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	150 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	65 °C	no data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	65 °C	no data
Number of transistors	1,400 million	624 Million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	No	No

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1 (Uniprocessor)
Socket	FCLGA1151	Socket G2
Power consumption (TDP)	51 Watt	35 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	no data
AES-NI	+	+
FMA	no data	+
AVX	+	+
vPro	no data	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	-	no data
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	no data
TSX	-	no data
Idle States	+	no data
Thermal Monitoring	+	no data
SIPP	-	no data
Status	Discontinued	no data

Security technologies

Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT	-	+
EDB	+	no data
Secure Key	+	no data
MPX	+	no data
Identity Protection	+	no data
SGX	Yes with Intel® ME	no data
OS Guard	+	no data

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M are enumerated here.

VT-d	+	+
VT-x	+	+
EPT	+	no data

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR3-1333
Maximum memory size	64 GB	16 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.1 GB/s	21.335 GB/s
ECC memory support	+	-

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card Compare	Intel HD Graphics 530	Intel HD Graphics 3000
Max video memory	64 GB	no data
Quick Sync Video	+	no data
Clear Video	+	no data
Clear Video HD	+	no data
Graphics max frequency	1.15 GHz	no data
InTru 3D	+	no data

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	no data
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	no data
HDMI	+	no data
DVI	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support	+	no data
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4	4096x2304@24Hz	no data
Max resolution over eDP	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over DisplayPort	4096x2304@60Hz	no data
Max resolution over VGA	N/A	no data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	12	no data
OpenGL	4.5	no data

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M.

PCIe version	3.0	no data
PCI Express lanes	16	no data

Pros & cons summary

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Integrated graphics card	2.59	0.66
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	51 Watt	35 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-6300 and Core i7-2660M, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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