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Intel Core i7-6820HK vs Intel Core i7-6870HQ vs Intel Core i7-6600U

Intel Core i7-6820HK

► remove from comparison Intel 6820HK

The Intel Core i7-6820HK is a quad-core processor based on the Skylake architecture, that has been launched in September 2015. In addition to four CPU cores with Hyper-Threading clocked at 2.7 - 3.6 GHz (4 cores: max. 3.2 GHz, 2 cores: max. 3.4 GHz), the chip also integrates an HD Graphics 530 GPU and a dual-channel DDR4-2133/DDR3L-1600 memory controller. The CPU is manufactured using a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors.

Currently, the i7-6820HK is the only Skylake chip with an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking (similar to previous Extreme Editions).

Architecture

Skylake replaces both Haswell and Broadwell and brings the same microarchitecture in every TDP class from 4.5 to 45 W. The extensive improvements of the Skylake design include increased out-of-order buffers, optimized prefetching and branch prediction as well as additional performance gains through Hyper-Threading. Overall, however, performance per clock has been increased by only 5 to 10 percent (compared to Haswell) respectively under 5 percent (compard to Broadwell), which is quite modest for a new architecture ("Tock").

Performance

Tanks to the improved architecture, the Core i7-6820HK performs roughly on par with the former Core i7-4900MQ (Haswell) or the Core i7-5700HQ (Broadwell). Under long-lasting full load, the Skylake chip will take the lead over most of its Haswell-based predecessors, as the advanced 14 nm process leads to a higher energy efficiency and reduces throttling. If the 6820HK is overclocked (we've tested up to 4.0 GHz on all 4 cores), the performance will be even better.

Even the most demanding applications and excessive multitasking are handled easily.

Graphics

The integrated graphics unit called HD Graphics 530 represents the "GT2" version of the Skylake GPU (Intel Gen. 9). The 24 Execution Units, also called EUs, are clocked at 350 - 1050 MHz and offer a performance about 20 percent above the old HD Graphics 4600. Games of 2015 can thus be played smoothly in low or medium settings. For more information about performance and features, check our page for the HD Graphics 530.

Power Consumption

Specified at a TDP of 45 W (including CPU, GPU and memory controller), the CPU is best suited for bigger notebooks 15-inches in size and above. Optionally, the TDP can be lowered to 35 watts (cTDP down), reducing both heat dissipation and performance.

Intel Core i7-6870HQ

► remove from comparison Intel 6870HQ

The Intel Core i7-6870HQ is a fast quad-core processor for notebooks based on the Skylake architecture and was introduced in the beginning of 2016. Besides four CPU cores including Hyperthreading, which are clocked between 2.7-3.6 GHz (probable Turbo steps: 4 cores: up to 3.2 GHz, 2 cores: up to 3.4 GHz), the processor also includes a very fast graphics unit. The Iris Pro Graphics 580 (GT4e) has 72 EUs as well as 128 MB eDRAM cache, which can also be used by the CPU cores. It is manufactured using a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors.

Contrary to other models like the Core i7-6820HQ, the i7-6870HQ does have a much faster GPU, but neither supports the instruction set extensions TSX-NI nor vPro.

Architecture

Intel uses Skylake to replace both Broadwell as well as Haswell and therefore uses one core design for all TDP classes between 4.5-45 Watts. Several improvements of the Skylake architecture include bigger Out-to-Order-Buffer, optimizations for pre-fetching as well as bigger gains by Hyperthreading. However, the changes are small for a "Tock" – a new micro architecture – in general, so the per-MHz performance is only between 5-10 % (compared to Haswell) or less than 5 % higher (compared to Broadwell), respectively.

The i7-6870HQ also benefits from the additional eDRAM cache in some cases, which can accelerate memory-heavy applications in particular.

Performance

Thanks to the additional eDRAM cache, the i7-6870HQ should even compete with the similarly clocked i7-6820HQ and is therefore one of the fastest notebook processors in the beginning of 2016. Even the most demanding applications and excessive multi-tasking are no problem for the high-end CPU.

Graphics

The integrated GPU with the designation Iris Pro Graphics 580 (also known as "GT4e") represents the fastest version of the Skylake GPU (Intel Gen. 9). 72 Execution Units (EUs) run at 350 up to 1000 MHz and allow a performance comparable to a dedicated mainstream chip. The GPU might be able to compete with a GeForce 945M under perfect conditions and it is therefore the fastest iGPU on the market by a pretty big margin. Modern games from 2015/2016 can usually be played smoothly at medium settings. More information about the performance and the features is available on our dedicated page for the Iris Pro Graphics 580.

Power Consumption

According to its TDP of 45 Watts, the chip is primarily designed for bigger notebooks starting with 15-inch screens. The TDP can optionally be reduced to 35 Watts (cTDP down), but this would obviously affect the performance.

Intel Core i7-6600U

► remove from comparison Intel 6600U

The Intel Core i7-6600U is an ULV (ultra low voltage) dual-core SoC based on the Skylake architecture. In September 2015, it's the fastest CPU of the 15 W series, which can be found in ultrabooks as well as normal notebooks. In addition to two CPU cores with Hyper-Threading clocked at 2.6 - 3.4 GHz (2 cores: max. 3.2 GHz), the chip also integrates an HD Graphics 520 GPU and a dual-channel DDR4-2133/DDR3L-1600 memory controller. The SoC is manufactured using a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors.

Architecture

Skylake replaces both Haswell and Broadwell and brings the same microarchitecture in every TDP class from 4.5 to 45 W. The extensive improvements of the Skylake design include increased out-of-order buffers, optimized prefetching and branch prediction as well as additional performance gains through Hyper-Threading. Overall, however, performance per clock has been increased by only 5 to 10 percent (compared to Haswell) respectively under 5 percent (compard to Broadwell), which is quite modest for a new architecture ("Tock").

Performance

According to the specified clock rates and the improved architecture, the Core i7-6600U should perform similar to a Core i5-4310M (Haswell, 37 W) and is one of the fastest ULV dual-cores as of late 2015. Thus, the CPU has sufficient power for office and multimedia purposes as well as more demanding applications and multitasking.

Graphics

The integrated graphics unit called HD Graphics 520 represents the "GT2" version of the Skylake GPU (Intel Gen. 9). The 24 Execution Units, also called EUs, are clocked at 300 - 1050 MHz and offer a performance somewhere in range of a dedicated GeForce 820M. Games of 2015 can thus be played smoothly in low settings. For more information about performance and features, check our page for the HD Graphics 520.

Power Consumption

Specified at a TDP of 15 W (including CPU, GPU and memory controller), the CPU is best suited for small notebooks and ultrabooks (11-inches and above). Optionally, the TDP can be lowered to 7.5 watts (cTDP down), reducing both heat dissipation and performance and allowing even more compact designs.

ModelIntel Core i7-6820HKIntel Core i7-6870HQIntel Core i7-6600U
SeriesIntel Core i7Intel Core i7Intel Core i7
CodenameSkylakeSkylakeSkylake
Series: Core i7 Skylake
Intel Core i7-6920HQ2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6970HQ2.8 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6870HQ2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HK « 2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6770HQ2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6700HQ2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6567U3.3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6600U2.6 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6650U2.2 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6560U2.2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6500U2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6920HQ2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6970HQ2.8 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6870HQ « 2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HK2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6770HQ2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6700HQ2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6567U3.3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6600U2.6 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6650U2.2 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6560U2.2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6500U2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6920HQ2.9 - 3.8 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6970HQ2.8 - 3.7 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6870HQ2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HK2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6820HQ2.7 - 3.6 GHz4 / 8 cores8 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6770HQ2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6700HQ2.6 - 3.5 GHz4 / 8 cores6 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6567U3.3 - 3.6 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6600U « 2.6 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6650U2.2 - 3.4 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6560U2.2 - 3.2 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Intel Core i7-6500U2.5 - 3.1 GHz2 / 4 cores4 MB L3
Clock2700 - 3600 MHz2700 - 3600 MHz2600 - 3400 MHz
L1 Cache256 KB256 KB128 KB
L2 Cache1 MB1 MB512 KB
L3 Cache8 MB8 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads4 / 84 / 82 / 4
TDP45 Watt45 Watt15 Watt
Technology14 nm14 nm14 nm
Die Size122 mm299 mm2
max. Temp.100 °C100 °C100 °C
SocketBGABGABGA
FeaturesDual-Channel DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133 Memory Controller, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NIDual-Channel DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133 Memory Controller, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI, TXTDual-Channel DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133 Memory Controller, HyperThreading, AVX, AVX2, Quick Sync, Virtualization, AES-NI, vPro, TXT
iGPUIntel HD Graphics 530 (350 - 1050 MHz)Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 (350 - 1000 MHz)Intel HD Graphics 520 (300 - 1050 MHz)
Architecturex86x86x86
$378 U.S.$434 U.S.$393 U.S.
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.comark.intel.com

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 687     avg: 739     median: 709 (4%)     max: 836 Points
45%
1 6600U +
min: 306     avg: 324     median: 321 (2%)     max: 348 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 134     avg: 153.9     median: 152 (46%)     max: 172 Points
93%
1 6600U +
min: 118     avg: 136.6     median: 141 (42%)     max: 144 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 7.7     avg: 8.1     median: 7.8 (10%)     max: 9.24 Points
46%
1 6600U +
min: 3.25     avg: 3.6     median: 3.6 (5%)     max: 3.84 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 1.58     avg: 1.8     median: 1.7 (43%)     max: 1.94 Points
93%
1 6600U +
min: 1.19     avg: 1.6     median: 1.6 (40%)     max: 1.63 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 5559     avg: 5776     median: 5653 (34%)     max: 6405 Points
94%
1 6600U +
min: 3260     avg: 5259     median: 5298 (32%)     max: 7045 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 20910     avg: 21774     median: 21165 (15%)     max: 24966 Points
53%
1 6600U +
min: 9140     avg: 11541     median: 11320 (8%)     max: 14948 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 27271     avg: 27498     median: 27479.5 (19%)     max: 27762 Points
52%
1 6600U +
min: 14391     avg: 14724     median: 14412 (10%)     max: 15369 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 7217     avg: 7316     median: 7313 (9%)     max: 7421 Points
94%
1 6600U +
min: 6863     avg: 7593     median: 6890 (8%)     max: 9027 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 210.3     avg: 229.7     median: 224.7 (3%)     max: 296.6 s
97%
1 6600U +
min: 447.3     avg: 503     median: 509 (6%)     max: 526 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 6.434     avg: 7.4     median: 7.3 (1%)     max: 9.5 s
98%
1 6600U +
min: 14.08     avg: 15.3     median: 14.7 (3%)     max: 19.26 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 5314     avg: 5369     median: 5314 (8%)     max: 5480 Points
46%
1 6600U +
min: 2264     avg: 2450     median: 2449.5 (4%)     max: 2635 Points
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 43.9     avg: 45.1     median: 44.1 (15%)     max: 50 fps
45%
1 6600U +
min: 19.52     avg: 20.8     median: 20 (7%)     max: 22.62 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 160.9     avg: 171.4     median: 165.9 (38%)     max: 190 fps
66%
1 6600U +
min: 103.7     avg: 111     median: 109 (25%)     max: 120.4 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 0.311     avg: 0.4     median: 0.4 (0%)     max: 0.477 GB/s
50%
1 6600U +
min: 0.193     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (0%)     max: 0.201 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 0.503     avg: 0.7     median: 0.7 (12%)     max: 0.803 GB/s
49%
1 6600U +
min: 0.317     avg: 0.3     median: 0.3 (6%)     max: 0.343 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 2.1     avg: 3.9     median: 3.9 (10%)     max: 4.6 GB/s
49%
1 6600U +
min: 1.9     avg: 1.9     median: 1.9 (5%)     max: 2 GB/s
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 7234     avg: 7601     median: 7410 (16%)     max: 8697 Points
58%
1 6600U +
min: 4107     avg: 4334     median: 4333.5 (9%)     max: 4560 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 9     avg: 10     median: 10.3 (2%)     max: 10.63 s
100%
1 6600U +
min: 10.9     avg: 11.1     median: 11.1 (2%)     max: 11.35 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 20     avg: 22.3     median: 23 (1%)     max: 23.39 s
100%
1 6600U +
min: 24.75     avg: 25.2     median: 25.1 (1%)     max: 26.03 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 486.7     avg: 532     median: 535.5 (2%)     max: 572 s
100%
1 6600U +
min: 558     avg: 578     median: 572 (3%)     max: 610 s
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 26017     avg: 26256     median: 26272 (23%)     max: 26478 Points
48%
1 6600U +
12712 Points (11%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 8220     avg: 9612     median: 9468 (26%)     max: 10925 Points
49%
1 6600U +
min: 4034     avg: 4479     median: 4606.5 (12%)     max: 4780 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 43579     avg: 49276     median: 47533.5 (39%)     max: 58061 Points
78%
1 6600U +
min: 31340     avg: 38138     median: 37127 (30%)     max: 42543 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 43592     avg: 49506     median: 47817 (39%)     max: 56227 Points
82%
1 6600U +
min: 26121     avg: 37420     median: 39364 (32%)     max: 42164 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 45688     avg: 49381     median: 47727 (40%)     max: 55770 Points
90%
1 6600U +
min: 42770     avg: 43159     median: 43159 (36%)     max: 43548 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 6663     avg: 7660     median: 7388 (19%)     max: 8824 Points
48%
1 6600U +
min: 3073     avg: 3543     median: 3569 (9%)     max: 3745 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 9695     avg: 10672     median: 10219 (18%)     max: 12239 Points
50%
1 6600U +
min: 4279     avg: 5086     median: 5134.5 (9%)     max: 5344 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
100%
1 6820HK +
4069 Points (17%)
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 6820HK +
13486 Points (24%)
50%
1 6600U +
min: 6303     avg: 6693     median: 6692.5 (12%)     max: 7082 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 32 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 6820HK +
3819 Points (75%)
84%
1 6600U +
min: 3060     avg: 3222     median: 3222 (63%)     max: 3384 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Multi-Core
100%
1 6820HK +
14128 Points (22%)
50%
1 6600U +
min: 6618     avg: 7032     median: 7031.5 (11%)     max: 7445 Points
Geekbench 3 - Geekbench 3 64 Bit Single-Core
100%
1 6820HK +
3983 Points (60%)
85%
1 6600U +
min: 3191     avg: 3369     median: 3369 (50%)     max: 3547 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 923     avg: 1122     median: 966.5 (1%)     max: 1631 ms
100%
1 6600U +
min: 1030     avg: 1601     median: 1048 (1%)     max: 3827 ms
Sunspider - Sunspider 1.0 Total Score *
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 65.7     avg: 78.8     median: 69.8 (1%)     max: 95.8 ms
99%
1 6600U +
min: 77.3     avg: 137.8     median: 134.4 (1%)     max: 205 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
100%
1 6820HK +
min: 16177     avg: 34771     median: 36903 (33%)     max: 44322 Points
89%
1 6600U +
min: 8244     avg: 28548     median: 32986 (30%)     max: 35045 Points
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
100%
1 6600U +
28.9 Watt (5%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
100%
1 6600U +
26.2 Watt (5%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
100%
1 6600U +
11.8 Points per Watt (9%)

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-6820HK → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks Intel Core i7-6600U → 0% n=

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

v1.26
log 28. 18:16:48

#0 checking url part for id 6974 +0s ... 0s

#1 checking url part for id 8018 +0s ... 0s

#2 checking url part for id 6969 +0s ... 0s

#3 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#4 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:35:32 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#5 composed specs +0.039s ... 0.04s

#6 did output specs +0s ... 0.04s

#7 getting avg benchmarks for device 6974 +0.003s ... 0.043s

#8 got single benchmarks 6974 +0.077s ... 0.121s

#9 getting avg benchmarks for device 8018 +0.003s ... 0.123s

#10 got single benchmarks 8018 +0s ... 0.124s

#11 getting avg benchmarks for device 6969 +0.002s ... 0.126s

#12 got single benchmarks 6969 +0.047s ... 0.174s

#13 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.174s

#14 min, max, avg, median took s +0.214s ... 0.388s

#15 return log +0s ... 0.388s

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Processor Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)