i3-550 vs i7-6700

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	1222	2464
Place by popularity	60	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	1.08	0.12
Market segment	Desktop processor	Desktop processor
Series	Intel Core i7 (Desktop)	no data
Power efficiency	7.40	1.31
Architecture codename	Skylake (2015−2016)	Clarkdale (2010−2011)
Release date	1 July 2015 (9 years ago)	30 May 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$303	$101

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-6700 has 800% better value for money than i3-550.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550 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	4 (Quad-Core)	2 (Dual-core)
Threads	8	4
Base clock speed	3.4 GHz	3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed	4 GHz	3.2 GHz
Bus type	DMI 3.0	no data
Bus rate	4 × 8 GT/s	2.5 GT/s
Multiplier	34	no data
L1 cache	64 KB (per core)	64 KB (per core)
L2 cache	256 KB (per core)	256 KB (per core)
L3 cache	8 MB (shared)	4 MB (shared)
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Die size	122 mm2	81 mm2
Maximum core temperature	no data	73 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	71 °C	no data
Number of transistors	no data	382 million
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550 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 (Uniprocessor)	1
Socket	FCLGA1151	FCLGA1156
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	73 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2	Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI	+	-
AVX	+	-
vPro	+	no data
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	-
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
TSX	+	-
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	+	-
SIPP	+	-
Demand Based Switching	no data	-
PAE	no data	36 Bit
FDI	no data	+

Security technologies

Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550 are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR3, DDR4	DDR3
Maximum memory size	64 GB	16.38 GB
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	34.134 GB/s	21 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

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

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported	3	2
eDP	+	no data
DisplayPort	+	-
HDMI	+	-
DVI	+	no data

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550 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 i7-6700 and Core i3-550 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 i7-6700 and Core i3-550.

PCIe version	3.0	2.0
PCI Express lanes	16	16

Synthetic benchmark performance

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

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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.

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Pros & cons summary

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Performance score	5.08	1.01
Integrated graphics card	2.60	0.77
Recency	1 July 2015	30 May 2010
Physical cores	4	2
Threads	8	4
Chip lithography	14 nm	32 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	65 Watt	73 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6700 and Core i3-550, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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