i3-10100 vs i7-6900K

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-6900K
2016
8 cores / 16 threads, 140 Watt
9.11
+67.2%
Core i3-10100
2020
4 cores / 8 threads, 65 Watt
5.45

Core i7-6900K outperforms Core i3-10100 by an impressive 67% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking8341152
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.9616.77
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Power efficiency6.167.93
Architecture codenameBroadwell-E (2016)Comet Lake-S (2020)
Release date31 May 2016 (8 years ago)30 April 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$1,020$130

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i3-10100 has 1647% better value for money than i7-6900K.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 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 cores8 (Octa-Core)4 (Quad-Core)
Threads168
Base clock speed3.2 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed4 GHz4.3 GHz
Bus rateno data8 GT/s
L1 cache32 KB (per core)64K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256K (per core)
L3 cache20 MB (shared)6 MB (shared)
Chip lithography14 nm14 nm
Die sizeno data126 mm2
Maximum core temperatureno data100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)72 °C72 °C
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier+-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 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 configuration11
SocketFCLGA2011FCLGA1200
Power consumption (TDP)140 Watt65 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsno dataIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI++
AVX++
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Turbo Boost Technology2.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
Smart Response+no data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0+-

Security technologies

Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
Identity Protection-+
SGXno dataYes with Intel® ME
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 are enumerated here.

AMD-V-+
VT-d++
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR4DDR4
Maximum memory size128 GB128 GB
Max memory channels42
Maximum memory bandwidthno data41.6 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 630
Max video memoryno data64 GB
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Videono data+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.1 GHz
InTru 3Dno data+

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data3

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

4K resolution supportno data+
Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160@30Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data4096 x 2304@60Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data4096 x 2304@60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100 integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100.

PCIe version3.03.0
PCI Express lanes4016

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.

i7-6900K 9.11
+67.2%
i3-10100 5.45

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.

i7-6900K 14470
+67.2%
i3-10100 8655

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.

i7-6900K 1286
i3-10100 1436
+11.7%

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.

i7-6900K 7200
+70%
i3-10100 4235

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 9.11 5.45
Recency 31 May 2016 30 April 2020
Physical cores 8 4
Threads 16 8
Power consumption (TDP) 140 Watt 65 Watt

i7-6900K has a 67.2% higher aggregate performance score, and 100% more physical cores and 100% more threads.

i3-10100, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 3 years, and 115.4% lower power consumption.

The Core i7-6900K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i3-10100 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6900K and Core i3-10100, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-6900K
Core i7-6900K
Intel Core i3-10100
Core i3-10100

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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