Core i7-6950X

Details and Benchmarks for Intel Core i7-6950X

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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 i7-6950X based on all benchmark results gathered. Look at this like a meta score, you will find more specific workload ratings below.

5,780 Rank: 329
Rank Name Score Visual
325 Ryzen 7 2700X 5,792
+0.2%
326 Xeon D-2166NT 5,788
+0.1%
327 EPYC 7542 5,786
+0.1%
328 Xeon E-2224 5,783
+0.1%
329 Core i7-6950X 5,780
330 Ryzen Threadripper 1900X 5,778
+-0%
331 Xeon W-2170B 5,773
-0.1%
332 Xeon E5-2687W 0 5,770
-0.2%
333 Ryzen 3 PRO 5350GE 5,765
-0.3%
334 Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G 5,765
-0.3%

View full ranking →

Multicore Score

Multicore performance score for Core i7-6950X based on multi-threaded benchmark results.

5,985 Rank: 233
Rank Name Score Visual
229 Xeon Gold 6140 6,007
+0.4%
230 Core i7-12700H 6,001
+0.3%
231 Ryzen 7 5800X 6,001
+0.3%
232 Xeon E5-2698 v4 5,985
+0%
233 Core i7-6950X 5,985
234 Core i9-11900KF 5,982
-0.1%
235 Xeon W-2170B 5,981
-0.1%
236 Xeon Gold 6134M 5,976
-0.2%
237 Ryzen 7 PRO 5845 5,970
-0.3%
238 Xeon E5-2628L v4 5,968
-0.3%

View full ranking →

Singlecore Score

Single-core performance score for Core i7-6950X based on single-threaded benchmark results.

5,643 Rank: 461
Rank Name Score Visual
457 Ryzen 3 PRO 4350GE 5,654
+0.2%
458 Ryzen 5 PRO 2600 5,653
+0.2%
459 Core i5-7287U 5,649
+0.1%
460 Core i7-1068NG7 5,645
+0%
461 Core i7-6950X 5,643
462 Xeon W-2170B 5,635
-0.1%
463 Pentium G4520 5,635
-0.1%
464 Core i5-7500 5,635
-0.1%
465 Ryzen 7 1700X 5,635
-0.1%
466 Xeon Gold 6234 5,633
-0.2%

View full ranking →

Workload Scores

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

Number Crunching

Aggregated score for Core i7-6950X based on integer math, floating point math, and prime number computation benchmarks.

5,125 Rank: 317
Rank Name Score Visual
313 Xeon W-2150B 5,128
+0.1%
314 Xeon Gold 5120 5,128
+0.1%
315 Xeon Gold 6126 5,127
+0%
316 Xeon E5-4660 v4 5,127
+0%
317 Core i7-6950X 5,125
318 Xeon Gold 5120T 5,124
+-0%
319 Xeon Gold 5315Y 5,114
-0.2%
320 Xeon E5-2689 v4 5,111
-0.3%
321 Xeon w3-2425 5,111
-0.3%
322 Xeon Gold 6244 5,103
-0.4%

View full ranking →

Data Processing

Aggregated score for Core i7-6950X based on data encryption, data compression, and string sorting benchmarks.

5,138 Rank: 346
Rank Name Score Visual
342 Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 5,148
+0.2%
343 Xeon Gold 5117 5,142
+0.1%
344 Xeon E5-2689 v4 5,141
+0.1%
345 Ryzen 5 3600X 5,139
+0%
346 Core i7-6950X 5,138
347 Xeon W-1350 5,135
-0.1%
348 Xeon Silver 4309Y 5,135
-0.1%
349 Xeon Gold 6244 5,134
-0.1%
350 Ryzen 5 PRO 4650G 5,134
-0.1%
351 Ryzen 7 PRO 7730U 5,134
-0.1%

View full ranking →

Physics & Compute

Aggregated score for Core i7-6950X based on physics simulation and extended instruction set (SSE/AVX) benchmarks.

5,187 Rank: 294
Rank Name Score Visual
290 Xeon E5-2687W v4 5,193
+0.1%
291 Xeon E5-2695 v4 5,192
+0.1%
292 Xeon E5-4627 v4 5,190
+0.1%
293 Ryzen 7 7435HS 5,190
+0.1%
294 Core i7-6950X 5,187
295 Ryzen 7 6800H 5,180
-0.1%
296 Ryzen 9 6900HS 5,179
-0.2%
297 Xeon W-1370P 5,177
-0.2%
298 Xeon W-1290E 5,174
-0.3%
299 Ryzen 7 7735HS 5,173
-0.3%

View full ranking →

Core i7-6950X Details

As of March 2026, the Intel Core i7-6950X stands as a high-end desktop processor from the Broadwell-E era, originally launched in May 2016. Designed for enthusiasts and power users, it occupies a niche within Intel's Core i7 Extreme lineup, offering a premium combination of core count, memory bandwidth, and overclocking flexibility. While now over seven years old, the i7-6950X remains notable for its 10-core, 20-thread configuration, a rare feature at the time of release that positioned it as a serious contender in the workstation and high-performance computing space. Its 14 nm manufacturing process and LGA2011-v3 socket reflect the technological state of the mid-2010s, and despite being surpassed by modern architectures, it still holds relevance in legacy systems and specific high-thread-count workloads.

The processor operates at a base frequency of 3.0 GHz and can boost up to 4.0 GHz, leveraging Intel's Hyper-Threading technology to deliver a total of 20 threads. With a substantial 23.842 MiB of L3 cache and a quad-channel DDR4 memory interface supporting speeds up to 2400 MT/s, the i7-6950X is optimized for tasks that benefit from large data sets and high memory throughput. The 140 W TDP underscores its power consumption and thermal demands, requiring robust cooling solutions, especially when overclocked. The unlocked multiplier allows for precise frequency adjustments, making it a favorite among overclocking communities, though this comes at the cost of higher energy usage and heat output.

In terms of integrated graphics, the Core i7-6950X does not include a GPU, meaning users must rely on a discrete graphics card for visual output. However, it supports a wide range of advanced features, including Intel's AVX2, AES-NI, and VT-x virtualization, which enhance performance in encryption, multimedia, and virtualization tasks. The processor supports up to 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes directly from the CPU, enabling high-bandwidth connections to storage and expansion cards, a key advantage in multi-GPU or high-speed NVMe configurations.

Benchmark results reveal that the i7-6950X holds a balanced performance profile. It achieves an overall score of 5780, placing it at #329 among 2060 processors, with a single-core score of 5643 (#461) and a multicore score of 5985 (#232). While it trails behind modern offerings like the Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX and Core Ultra 9 285K, it remains competitive with many mainstream and even some high-end CPUs from its era. In the multicore category, it outperforms several Intel and AMD chips from later generations, including the Core i9-11900KF and Xeon W-2170B, highlighting its strength in parallel processing. However, its single-core performance lags behind current leaders, reflecting the limitations of its older microarchitecture.

Overall, the Core i7-6950X is best suited for users who require extensive multi-threaded performance in legacy systems or who are working with software that benefits from high core counts and memory bandwidth. While no longer a top-tier performer by today's standards, its combination of ten cores, extensive cache, and overclocking potential ensures it remains a viable option for specific professional and enthusiast applications, even in 2026.
Frequently Compared

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X 46 views

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 3900 33 views

AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U 32 views

AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 2200GE 31 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4116T 30 views

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700X 30 views

AMD EPYC 7452 29 views

Intel Xeon Silver 4114 29 views

AMD EPYC 7402P 27 views

Intel Xeon W-3245M 24 views

Intel Core i7-6950X

Main Specifications

Designer: Intel
Name: Core i7-6950X
Model Number: i7-6950X
Cores: 10
Threads: 20
Base Frequency: 3000 MHz
Clock Multiplier: 30x (locked)
Core Name: Broadwell-E
Socket: LGA2011-v3
Package:
Target Segment: Desktop
Max CPUs: 1
TDP: 140 W

Cache Specifications

L1 Cache: 31.744 KiB
L2 Cache: 0.244 MiB
L3 Cache: 23.842 MiB

Memory Specifications

Supported Memory Type: DDR4 2400/2133
Memory Channels: 4
Maximum Memory: 0 GB
Maximum Bandwidth: 25.6 GB/s
ECC Support: No

PCI-Express Specifications

PCIe Revision: 3.0
PCIe Lanes: 40
PCIe Configuration: Up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8+2x4

Integrated Graphics

GPU: None
GPU Designer: Intel
GPU Max Frequency: 1250 MHz

Physical Specifications

Process: 14 nm
Die Area: 246 mm²
Manufacturer: Intel
Word Size: 64-bit

CPU Features

MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 AVX AVX2 BMI1 BMI2 FMA3 AES CLMUL F16C x86-64 HT EIST TXT VT-x VT-d EPT Secure Key SMEP IPT
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