CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-6600 vs Intel Core i5-7600
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-6600 is a high-clocked locked quad-core Skylake processor offering the best non-overclocking mainstream performance for 2015 gaming and productivity builds.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Fast single-core makes everyday tasks snappy, but multi-threaded work is slow.
Very snappy for daily tasks, but 4 threads limit heavy multitasking.
Gaming
Good 1080p performance in older games, but severe stuttering in modern CPU-heavy titles.
Good for older games due to high clocks, but bottlenecks modern GPUs in CPU-heavy titles.
Virtualization
Inadequate for running multiple VMs due to 4 threads.
Limited by core count for running multiple VMs.
Efficiency
65W TDP provides a great balance of performance and power draw.
65W TDP offers a good balance of power and heat.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware acceleration
- 4 threads are insufficient for modern AI workloads
- No AI acceleration hardware
- Inadequate for local AI inference
Content Creation
Gaming
- 3.9 GHz turbo provides solid single-core grunt
- Lacks the threads for modern open-world games
- Will bottleneck mid-range modern GPUs at 1080p
- High single-core clocks help older games
- 4 threads cause stuttering in modern AAA titles
- Requires a discrete GPU for any real gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- High 3.9 GHz single-core turbo
- Solid 3.6 GHz all-core turbo
- 65W TDP is easy to cool
- Included a decent stock cooler
Cons
- Only 4 threads without Hyper-Threading
- Locked multiplier
- End-of-life platform with no upgrade path
- Struggles in modern multi-threaded workloads
Pros
- High single-thread performance
- 4.1 GHz max turbo boost
- 65W TDP is easy to cool
- Hardware 4K video decoding
- Good for legacy gaming
Cons
- Only 4 cores and 4 threads
- Locked multiplier
- Bottlenecks modern GPUs
- No official Windows 11 support
- Outdated PCIe Gen 3
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-6600
- AMD FX-8370Rival
Mainstream Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-6600KRival
Enthusiast Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4690Rival
Previous Gen
- AMD FX-6350Rival
Budget Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-4790Rival
High-End Previous Gen
Modern budget king that obliterates the i5-6600 in single-core and multi-core.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600Alt
6 cores/12 threads, much better for gaming and productivity today.
- Intel Core i5-12400FAlt
The direct modern equivalent with 12 threads and superior IPC.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600Alt
Older generation but still vastly superior in multi-threaded tasks.
Cheap 6-core/12-thread option on the used market.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-7600
- AMD Ryzen 5 1500XRival
Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-7500Rival
Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i7-7700Rival
Desktop
- Intel Core i3-7350KRival
Desktop
Successor with 6 cores, offering much better modern performance for similar money.
Compare head-to-headThe unlocked version if you plan to overclock on an older board.
Compare head-to-headA cheap modern alternative with 6 cores and 12 threads.
Compare head-to-headA modern budget CPU that vastly outperforms it.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-6600 was the ultimate locked gaming chip of 2015, boasting high boost clocks, though modern users will find its 4-thread design a major bottleneck.
Best for: The i5-6600 is a solid drop-in upgrade if you are currently running a Pentium or i3 on an LGA 1151 motherboard and can get this chip for dirt cheap. It offers a noticeable bump in single-core speed and cache over lower-tier Skylake chips, making your system feel much snappier for daily use and older games. It’s also a decent holdover chip if your main CPU died and you need a cheap replacement. However, buying this to build a new system is a mistake. Modern budget chips like the i3-12100F offer vastly superior single-thread and multi-thread performance, alongside modern platform features. Do not overspend on this legacy hardware; your money is better saved for a modern platform overhaul.
Read the full reviewOffers the best single-thread performance of the locked 7th Gen i5s, but the 4-core/4-thread limitation makes it a poor choice for modern multi-threaded workloads.
Best for: Upgrading an older LGA 1151 system where maximum single-thread speed is needed without overclocking.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-6600 or Intel Core i5-7600?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-6600 comes out ahead with a score of 7.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-6600 or Intel Core i5-7600?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-6600 leads with a gaming performance score of 60/100 among Intel Core i5-6600 and Intel Core i5-7600.
Do Intel Core i5-6600 and Intel Core i5-7600 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-6600: LGA 1151, Intel Core i5-7600: Intel Socket 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-7600 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-6600 (5,600), Intel Core i5-7600 (6,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.