AMD Ryzen 5 3500X vs Intel Core i7-6700K Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents an unambiguous outcome: the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X wins every single head-to-head benchmark recorded, taking 19 of 19 comparisons. The Intel Core i7-6700K does not secure a single win in any test, which makes the performance hierarchy clear. The Ryzen 5 3500X leads by margins ranging from a negligible 0.1% in single-threaded PassMark tests to a crushing 76.9% in prime number finding. The Core i7-6700K is an end-of-life desktop part from the Skylake generation, while the Ryzen 5 3500X is an active Matisse part built on Zen 2. For any workload represented in the benchmark suite, the Ryzen 5 3500X is the superior choice. The i7-6700K retains its launch MSRP of $339 in the record, but that figure carries no weight against the Ryzen's complete benchmark dominance.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i7-6700K uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 122 mm². It packs 4 cores and 8 threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2 per core, plus 8 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports dual-channel DDR3 or DDR4 memory depending on the motherboard, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The chip runs on the Intel Socket 1151 and carries a 91 W TDP. It includes integrated HD Graphics 530, which the AMD part lacks entirely.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is built on the Zen 2 architecture (codename Matisse) using a 7 nm process from TSMC. The chip has 3,800 million transistors on a 74 mm² die. It provides 6 cores and 6 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The cache setup is substantially larger: 64 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2 per core, with a 32 MB shared L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 only, dual-channel, with a higher bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s. It uses the AMD Socket AM4 and has a lower TDP of 65 W. The PCIe interface is newer as well: Gen 4 with 24 lanes from the CPU, compared to Gen 3 with 16 lanes on the Intel part.

The process node difference is significant: 14 nm versus 7 nm, which helps explain the AMD chip's efficiency advantages. The AMD chip also has a much larger L3 cache at 32 MB versus 8 MB, a fourfold difference. Both processors have unlocked multipliers, but the Ryzen's newer memory bus and PCIe generation give it platform-level advantages. The Intel part has no ECC support, and neither does the AMD chip. The Ryzen 5 3500X has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is mandatory, whereas the i7-6700K can output video through its HD Graphics 530.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the head-to-head results, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X wins everywhere. The largest margin comes in PassMark's find prime numbers test, where the Ryzen scores 130 against the Intel's 30, a 76.9% advantage. Data encryption shows a 57.8% lead for AMD with scores of 7276 versus 3067. Physics simulation in PassMark favors the Ryzen by 48.4%, with 1234 points against 637. Extended instructions see a 41.3% gap, with 14053 versus 8248.

The Ryzen also dominates in multi-threaded rendering. Cinebench R23 multicore gives the AMD chip 11196 points versus 7594 for Intel, a 32.2% lead. The same 32.2% delta appears consistently across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore tests, as well as PassMark multithread. Single-core Cinebench results show a 32.1% to 32.2% advantage for AMD across all versions. Geekbench multicore shows a 20.8% lead for the Ryzen, while single-core Geekbench is closer at 6.3%.

The narrowest margins are in single-threaded PassMark tests. PassMark single thread and singlethread both show 2502 for AMD versus 2500 for Intel, a 0.1% difference that is effectively a tie. Random string sorting is also close, with AMD leading 16263 to 15788, a 2.9% gap. Integer math shows a 13.6% lead, floating point math a 24.8% lead, and data compression a 12.6% lead, all favoring AMD.

The i7-6700K has no benchmark wins to highlight. Its best relative showing is in the single-threaded PassMark tests where it trails by only a hair, but it still loses. The data suggests that for any workload measured here, the Ryzen 5 3500X is the faster processor. The only area where the Intel chip could be considered competitive is in raw single-thread performance as measured by PassMark, but even there it is behind.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has 6 cores and 6 threads, while the Intel Core i7-6700K has 4 cores and 8 threads. The AMD chip has more physical cores but fewer threads overall.

Q: How large is the cache difference between the two?

A: The Ryzen 5 3500X has 32 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-6700K has only 8 MB. The AMD chip also has 512 KB of L2 per core versus 256 KB per core on the Intel part. L1 cache is the same at 64 KB per core.

Q: Which processor has a smaller manufacturing process node?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is built on a 7 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel Core i7-6700K uses a 14 nm process from Intel. The AMD chip also has a smaller die size at 74 mm² versus 122 mm².

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each processor?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700K has a TDP of 91 W, while the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has a lower TDP of 65 W. This makes the AMD chip more power-efficient on paper.

Q: Is there a benchmark where the Intel chip comes closest to winning?

A: The closest result is in PassMark single-thread and singlethread tests, where the Ryzen scores 2502 and the Intel scores 2500, a delta of only 0.1%. The Intel chip still loses, but this is its smallest margin of defeat.

Q: Does the Intel processor have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i7-6700K includes HD Graphics 530. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500X has no integrated graphics, so it requires a separate graphics card for display output.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a complete sweep for the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X across all 19 recorded comparisons. The biggest win for AMD is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the Ryzen scores 130 against the Intel's 30. That 76.9% delta is the largest gap in the entire set. Data encryption is the second-largest margin at 57.8%, with AMD at 7276 and Intel at 3067. PassMark physics shows a 48.4% lead, with 1234 versus 637.

Cinebench results are remarkably consistent. Every multicore test — R15, R20, and R23 — shows exactly a 32.2% advantage for AMD. The scores are 1128 versus 765 in R15, 4702 versus 3189 in R20, and 11196 versus 7594 in R23. Single-core Cinebench tests also show a uniform pattern, with 32.1% deltas in R15 and R20 and 32.2% in R23. The Ryzen scores 159, 663, and 1580 in R15, R20, and R23 single-core respectively, against Intel's 108, 450, and 1072.

Geekbench results favor AMD but with different margins. Multicore Geekbench shows a 20.8% lead for the Ryzen, with 6331 versus 5011. Single-core Geekbench narrows to 6.3%, with 1539 versus 1442. PassMark multithread shows a 32.2% delta, matching the Cinebench multicore pattern, with 13172 versus 8927.

PassMark specialty tests show a range of outcomes. Extended instructions favor AMD by 41.3%, with 14053 versus 8248. Floating point math gives the Ryzen a 24.8% lead, with 23095 versus 17375. Integer math shows a 13.6% advantage, with 32564 versus 28144. Data compression results show a 12.6% lead, with 143701 versus 125659. Random string sorting is closer at 2.9%, with 16263 versus 15788.

The only near-tie is in PassMark single-thread tests. Both single thread and singlethread show 2502 for AMD and 2500 for Intel, a 0.1% difference. This indicates that the two processors have essentially identical single-threaded integer performance in PassMark's measurement, but the AMD chip wins by a hair. Every other test shows a more substantial margin.

The pattern across all benchmarks is consistent: the Ryzen 5 3500X leads by a wide margin in multi-threaded and specialized workloads, and by a narrow or moderate margin in single-threaded and memory-sensitive tasks. The i7-6700K, despite its higher base and boost clocks, cannot overcome the Ryzen's architectural advantages in core count, cache size, and memory bandwidth. The data leaves no ambiguity about which processor is faster in any measured scenario.