Core i5-6600K

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i5-6600K

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Benchmark Results

Combined benchmark scores based on multiple data points, giving a quick overview of this processor's performance.

Overall Score

Overall score for Core i5-6600K based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

5,622 Rank: 405
Rank Name Score Visual
401 Core i3-8350K 5,627
+0.1%
402 Xeon Gold 5315Y 5,626
+0.1%
403 Ryzen 7 7730U 5,626
+0.1%
404 Xeon E5-1680 v4 5,623
+0%
405 Core i5-6600K 5,622
406 Ryzen 7 PRO 1700X 5,621
+-0%
407 EPYC 7262 5,617
-0.1%
408 Core i9-8950HK 5,616
-0.1%
409 AMD Ryzen 5 1500X 5,615
-0.1%
410 Xeon Gold 5317 5,611
-0.2%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i5-6600K based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

5,080 Rank: 578
Rank Name Score Visual
574 Ryzen 5 5500U 5,085
+0.1%
575 Core i3-8350K 5,084
+0.1%
576 Ryzen 5 4600HS 5,084
+0.1%
577 Core i7 X 000 5,083
+0.1%
578 Core i5-6600K 5,080
579 Core i7-3970X 5,080
+0%
580 Core i5-10500T 5,080
+0%
581 Xeon E3-1240 v6 5,079
+-0%
582 Xeon E5-2695 v2 5,076
-0.1%
583 Xeon E-2324G 5,075
-0.1%

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Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i5-6600K based on single-threaded benchmark results.

5,983 Rank: 276
Rank Name Score Visual
272 FX-9590 5,996
+0.2%
273 Ryzen Threadripper 3960X 5,994
+0.2%
274 Xeon E-2136 5,989
+0.1%
275 Core i3-8350K 5,989
+0.1%
276 Core i5-6600K 5,983
277 Core i3-6320 5,980
-0.1%
278 Xeon W-3375 5,980
-0.1%
279 Xeon E-2186M 5,973
-0.2%
280 Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U 5,972
-0.2%
281 Xeon W-1290E 5,971
-0.2%

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Workload Scores

Performance scores grouped by workload type, normalized and aggregated from multiple raw benchmark results.

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i5-6600K based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

4,663 Rank: 781
Rank Name Score Visual
777 Xeon Silver 4112 4,664
+0%
778 Atom C3858 4,664
+0%
779 Core i5-4690K 4,664
+0%
780 Core i7-7700HQ 4,663
+0%
781 Core i5-6600K 4,663
782 Core i7-3770S 4,663
+0%
783 Xeon E3-1225 v6 4,662
+-0%
784 Xeon D-1622 4,662
+-0%
785 Core i7-3940XM 4,662
+-0%
786 Xeon E3-1220 v3 4,661
+-0%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i5-6600K based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

4,632 Rank: 820
Rank Name Score Visual
816 Core i7-4720HQ 4,639
+0.2%
817 Core i7-10510U 4,637
+0.1%
818 Core i7-4700HQ 4,633
+0%
819 Xeon X5677 4,633
+0%
820 Core i5-6600K 4,632
821 Core i7-4710HQ 4,632
+0%
822 Core i7-6700TE 4,631
+-0%
823 Core i7-3615QM 4,631
+-0%
824 Xeon E5645 4,631
+-0%
825 Xeon D-1521 4,630
+-0%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i5-6600K based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

4,743 Rank: 660
Rank Name Score Visual
656 Xeon E3-1505M v6 4,745
+0%
657 Core i7-7820EQ 4,744
+0%
658 Core i5-1145G7 4,744
+0%
659 Xeon E-2104G 4,743
+0%
660 Core i5-6600K 4,743
661 Core i5-10400H 4,743
+0%
662 Xeon E3-1276 v3 4,742
+-0%
663 Core i5-10300H 4,742
+-0%
664 Core i3-9100 4,741
+-0%
665 Xeon E5-1620 v4 4,741
+-0%

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Core i5-6600K Details

The Intel Core i5-6600K was designed for enthusiasts and budget-conscious users seeking high single-threaded performance with overclocking flexibility. Released in August 2015, this processor belongs to Intel's Skylake generation and is built on a 14 nm process, offering a balance of efficiency and performance that was competitive at the time. Despite being over eight years old as of early 2026, it remains a viable option for basic productivity and light gaming, particularly in systems where integrated graphics are sufficient and discrete GPU upgrades are planned later.

The Core i5-6600K features four cores and four threads, operating at a base frequency of 3.5 GHz and capable of boosting up to 3.9 GHz under load. It supports dual-channel DDR3L-1600 and DDR4-2133 memory, with a maximum capacity of 64 GB and a memory bandwidth of up to 34.1 GB/s. The processor is packaged in FCLGA-1151 and has a TDP of 91 W, which necessitates adequate cooling, especially when overclocking. Its unlocked multiplier makes it ideal for overclocking, allowing users to push clock speeds well beyond stock levels with compatible motherboards.

Integrated into the chip is Intel's HD Graphics 530, which includes 24 execution units and a maximum frequency of 1.15 GHz. While not suitable for modern gaming, it provides decent performance for office tasks, media playback, and light video editing. The GPU supports up to three displays and can handle basic 1080p content. The processor supports a wide range of advanced instruction sets, including AVX, AVX2, AES-NI, and Intel's virtualization technologies such as VT-x and VT-d, making it suitable for virtualization and encryption-heavy workloads.

In benchmark testing, the Core i5-6600K achieves an overall score of 5622, ranking #405 out of 2060 processors. It scores 5983 in single-core performance, placing it at #276, which indicates strong performance in applications that rely on single-threaded speed. However, its multicore score of 5080 places it at #578, showing that while it holds its own in single-threaded tasks, it is significantly outpaced by modern multi-core processors. Compared to newer CPUs like the Core i3-8350K or Ryzen 5 4600HS, it is slightly behind, but still competitive against some mid-tier offerings from the past few years.

Given its age and performance profile, the Core i5-6600K is best suited for users who prioritize cost-effective upgrades or who are building systems with limited budgets. It remains relevant for general computing, web browsing, and productivity tasks, but falls short in content creation, 3D rendering, and high-end gaming. As of March 2026, it stands as a relic of the Skylake era—capable, overclockable, and still functional, but no longer a contender in the modern CPU landscape.
Frequently Compared

Intel Xeon E5-2680 v4 46 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4110 38 views

AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 35 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4208 34 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4210 34 views

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 33 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4116T 33 views

Intel Core i7-7660U 33 views

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U 31 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4114 31 views

Intel Core i5-6600K

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i5-6600K
Family: Core
Series: i5-6000
Model Number: i5-6600K
Cores: 4
Threads: 4
Base Frequency: 3500 MHz
Turbo Frequency (1 core): 3900 MHz
Turbo Frequency (2 cores): 3800 MHz
Turbo Frequency (3 cores): 3700 MHz
Turbo Frequency (4 cores): 3600 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 35x (unlocked)
Microarchitecture: Skylake
Core Name: Skylake
Core Family: 6
Core Model: 94
Socket: LGA-1151
Package: FCLGA-1151
Chipset: Sunrise
Target Segment: Desktop
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 91 W
Release Price: $243.00

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 256 KiB
L1 Instruction Cache: 128 KiB (8-way set associative)
L1 Data Cache: 128 KiB (8-way set associative)
L2 Cache: 1 MiB (4-way set associative)
L3 Cache: 6 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR3L-1600 and DDR4-2133
Memory Channels: 2
Maximum Memory: 64 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 31.79 GB/s
ECC Support: No

Integrated Graphics

GPU: HD Graphics 530
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1150 MHz
Execution Units: 24

Physical Specifications

Process: 14 nm
Die Area: 122 mm²
Manufacturer: Intel
Technology: CMOS
Word Size: 64-bit
ISA: x86-64 (x86)

CPU Features

MMX EMMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX AVX2 ABM BMI1 BMI2 FMA3 AES RdRand ADX CLMUL F16C x86-16 x86-32 x86-64 Real Protected SMM FPU NX TBT 2.0 EIST TXT VT-x VT-d EPT MPX SGX Secure Key SMEP IPT TSX Flex Memory FMA
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