i7-6970HQ vs i7-6950X

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking	706	1649
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	0.85	no data
Market segment	Desktop processor	Laptop
Series	Intel Core i7 (Desktop)	Intel Core i7
Power efficiency	7.39	6.14
Architecture codename	Broadwell-E (2016)	Skylake (2015−2016)
Release date	31 May 2016 (8 years ago)	2 January 2016 (8 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$1,723	$623

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ 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	10 (Deca-Core)	4 (Quad-Core)
Threads	20	8
Base clock speed	3 GHz	2.8 GHz
Boost clock speed	4 GHz	3.7 GHz
Bus type	no data	DMI 3.0
Bus rate	9.6 GT/s / QPI	4 × 8 GT/s
Multiplier	no data	28
L1 cache	32K (per core)	256 KB
L2 cache	256K (per core)	1 MB
L3 cache	25 MB (shared)	8 MB
Chip lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Die size	246 mm2	no data
Maximum core temperature	no data	100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)	72 °C	no data
Number of transistors	3,800 million	no data
64 bit support	+	+
Windows 11 compatibility	-	-
Unlocked multiplier	+	-

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ 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	FCLGA2011	FCBGA1440
Power consumption (TDP)	140 Watt	45 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensions	no data	Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI	+	+
AVX	+	+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)	+	+
eDRAM	no data	128 MB
Turbo Boost Technology	2.0	2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology	+	+
Idle States	+	+
Thermal Monitoring	-	+
Smart Response	+	+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0	+	no data

Security technologies

Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

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

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ are enumerated here.

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

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory types	DDR4	DDR3, DDR4
Maximum memory size	128 GB	64 GB
Max memory channels	4	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	no data	34.134 GB/s

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics card	no data	Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580
Max video memory	no data	64 GB
Quick Sync Video	-	+
Clear Video HD	no data	+
Graphics max frequency	no data	1.05 GHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ integrated GPUs.

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

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

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

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectX	no data	12
OpenGL	no data	4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ.

PCIe version	3.0	3.0
PCI Express lanes	40	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	11.35	3.03
Recency	31 May 2016	2 January 2016
Physical cores	10	4
Threads	20	8
Power consumption (TDP)	140 Watt	45 Watt

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Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-6950X and Core i7-6970HQ, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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