i9-10900K vs i5-6600

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i5-6600
2015
4 cores / 4 threads, 65 Watt
3.96
Core i9-10900K
2020
10 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
14.88
+276%

Core i9-10900K outperforms Core i5-6600 by a whopping 276% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking1459498
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.7615.86
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesIntel Core i5no data
Power efficiency5.5610.85
Architecture codenameSkylake (2015−2016)Comet Lake (2020)
Release date1 September 2015 (9 years ago)30 April 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$224$488

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-10900K has 1987% better value for money than i5-6600.

Detailed specifications

Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K 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 cores4 (Quad-Core)10 (Deca-Core)
Threads420
Base clock speed3.3 GHz3.7 GHz
Boost clock speed3.9 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus typeDMI 3.0no data
Bus rate4 × 8 GT/s8 GT/s
Multiplier33no data
L1 cache256 KB64 KB (per core)
L2 cache1 MB256 KB (per core)
L3 cache6 MB (shared)20 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die size122 mm2206 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)66 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K 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 configuration1 (Uniprocessor)1
SocketFCLGA1151FCLGA1200
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
FMA-+
AVX++
vPro++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
TSX+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
SIPP++
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+

Security technologies

Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Key++
MPX+-
Identity Protection++
SGXYes with Intel® MEYes with Intel® ME
OS Guard++

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K are enumerated here.

VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4
Maximum memory size64 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth34.134 GB/s45.8 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card
Compare
Intel HD Graphics 530Intel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memory64 GB64 GB
Quick Sync Video++
Clear Video++
Clear Video HD++
Graphics max frequency1.15 GHz1.2 GHz
InTru 3D++

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported33
eDP+no data
DisplayPort+-
HDMI+-
DVI+no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution support++
Max resolution over HDMI 1.44096x2304@24Hz4096 x 2160@30Hz
Max resolution over eDP4096x2304@60Hz4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPort4096x2304@60Hz4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over VGAN/Ano data

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX1212
OpenGL4.54.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes1616

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i5-6600 3.96
i9-10900K 14.88
+276%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i5-6600 6055
i9-10900K 22768
+276%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i5-6600 1297
i9-10900K 1775
+36.9%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i5-6600 3569
i9-10900K 9064
+154%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.96 14.88
Integrated graphics card 2.59 3.09
Recency 1 September 2015 30 April 2020
Physical cores 4 10
Threads 4 20
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 125 Watt

i5-6600 has 92.3% lower power consumption.

i9-10900K, on the other hand, has a 275.8% higher aggregate performance score, 19.3% faster integrated GPU, an age advantage of 4 years, and 150% more physical cores and 400% more threads.

The Core i9-10900K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i5-6600 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i5-6600 and Core i9-10900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i5-6600
Core i5-6600
Intel Core i9-10900K
Core i9-10900K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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