CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-6600T vs Intel Core i7-6700T
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-6600T is a 35W low-power quad-core Skylake processor providing a higher frequency ceiling than the 6500T, aimed at performance small form factor desktops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Snappy for light tasks, but 4 threads limit heavy productivity workloads.
Handles office applications and multitasking smoothly.
Gaming
Good burst performance for older games, but low base clock hinders sustained heavy gaming.
Only suitable for very light or older games on low settings.
Virtualization
Can run a light VM, but resources are quickly exhausted.
Can run light VMs but limited by 35W power constraints.
Efficiency
Excellent performance-per-watt, typical of Intel's T-series bins.
Outstanding power-to-performance ratio for silent computing.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI acceleration and low core counts make it unviable for AI tasks
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Basic CPU inference only
Content Creation
Gaming
- 3.5 GHz single-core turbo helps with older eSports titles
- Low base clock causes sluggishness in CPU-heavy open-world games
- Not recommended as a gaming CPU today
- Relies on Intel HD Graphics 530
- Not suitable for modern AAA titles
- Great for retro or indie gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- High single-core turbo for a 35W part
- Excellent 3.3 GHz all-core turbo
- Runs very cool and quiet
- Supports both DDR3L and DDR4
Cons
- Only 4 threads
- Locked multiplier
- Low base clock of 2.7 GHz
- Hard to find outside of pre-built systems
Pros
- Extremely low 35W TDP
- Supports DDR4 memory
- Good for silent computing
- Solid quad-core multitasking
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- Older 14nm process
- Weak integrated graphics
- Limited upgrade path
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-6600T
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-6500TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD A10-8700PRival
Mobile/Low Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-6700TRival
High-End Low Power
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-4570TRival
Previous Gen Low Power
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GERival
Low Power Desktop
6 cores, higher clocks, same 35W TDP on the used market.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
6 cores/12 threads with vastly superior efficiency and performance.
- Intel Core i5-12400TAlt
Modern architecture with incredible low-power performance.
- Intel N100Alt
Cheaper, more modern low-power chip for basic NAS/HTPC use.
- AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650GEAlt
Best value 35W 6-core alternative for OEM systems.
Intel Core i7-6700T
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400GERival
Low Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-6500TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 2400GERival
Low Power Desktop
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-7700TRival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200GERival
Low Power Desktop
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GEAlt
Much newer, faster, and more efficient.
- Intel Core i5-10400TAlt
More cores and newer architecture.
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600GEAlt
Better integrated graphics and CPU performance.
Modern Alder Lake alternative with massive single-core gains.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The i5-6600T offers slightly more headroom than the 6500T within the same 35W limit, making it a slightly better choice for SFF refurbishing, though still outdated overall.
Best for: If you are picking up a used 1-liter PC (like a Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny or HP EliteDesk Mini) for a home server, HTPC, or basic office terminal, the i5-6600T is a great little workhorse. It offers a nice balance between the lower clocks of the 6500T and the higher power draw of the 65W parts. It runs incredibly cool and is virtually silent. However, buying this chip standalone to build a new PC is a terrible idea. Modern budget processors deliver vastly superior performance and efficiency. If you have this CPU, an SSD and 16GB of RAM will make it feel incredibly responsive for daily tasks, but do not expect it to handle modern gaming or heavy creative workloads.
Read the full reviewA highly efficient 35W processor that delivers reliable quad-core performance for SFF builds, though it lacks the power for modern heavy workloads.
Best for: Building a low-power home server or near-silent HTPC.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-6600T or Intel Core i7-6700T?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-6700T comes out ahead with a score of 7.5/10. 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 i5-6600T or Intel Core i7-6700T?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-6600T leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-6600T and Intel Core i7-6700T.
Do Intel Core i5-6600T and Intel Core i7-6700T use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-6600T: LGA 1151, Intel Core i7-6700T: Intel Socket 1151), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-6700T posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-6600T (5,000), Intel Core i7-6700T (6,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.