AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 vs Intel Core i7-6700K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data leaves no ambiguity: the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Core i7-6700K. Across six Cinebench comparisons, AMD’s lead is remarkably consistent, with deltas of roughly 80.9 percent in favor of the Ryzen part in every test except one, where it sits at 80.8 percent.

The most extreme gap appears in Cinebench R23 multi-core. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 scores 39,653, while the i7-6700K manages 7,594. That is a 422 percent advantage, which translates to the Ryzen finishing the workload in roughly one-fifth of the time. In single-core R23, the AMD part scores 5,598 against Intel’s 1,072, a 422 percent lead as well. The single-core margin matters because it shows the Ryzen’s advantage is not purely a core-count story; per-thread performance is dramatically higher too.

Cinebench R20 tells the same story. Multi-core: 16,654 versus 3,189, an 80.9 percent delta. Single-core: 2,351 versus 450, an 80.9 percent delta. Even the oldest test in the set, Cinebench R15, shows the pattern: 3,996 versus 765 in multi-core, and 564 versus 108 in single-core. The i7-6700K’s best result in any comparison is its R23 multi-core score, which reaches 19.1 percent of the Ryzen’s total. Every other test leaves Intel below that mark.

The database also records average benchmark scores for both CPUs. The i7-6700K averages 12,237 across all its recorded tests, placing it in the 67th percentile of all CPUs. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 averages 11,469, also in the 67th percentile. That near-identical percentile ranking, despite the enormous Cinebench deltas, reflects that the two chips are measured against different performance tiers in the database, and the Ryzen’s average is pulled down by its relative weakness in some Passmark workloads when compared to its Cinebench dominance.

Looking at the nearest rivals for context: the i7-6700K sits within 1.8 percent of the Intel Xeon Gold 6314U and Xeon Bronze 3408U, and within 1.5 percent of the Intel Core i3-12100. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is 0.9 percent behind the Intel Xeon Gold 6342 and 1.7 percent ahead of the Intel Core i5-1145G7. These are the reference points the database uses to frame each chip’s standing.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 wins decisively, scoring 39,653 against the Intel Core i7-6700K’s 7,594. That is an 80.8 percent delta in AMD’s favor.

Q: Is the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 also faster in single-core tests?

A: Yes. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Ryzen scores 5,598 versus 1,072 for the i7-6700K, an 80.9 percent delta. The same pattern holds in R20 and R15 single-core.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i7-6700K has a higher average benchmark score of 12,237, compared to 11,469 for the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945. Both CPUs sit in the 67th percentile of all processors in the database.

Q: What are the closest rivals to each chip?

A: The i7-6700K’s nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-10105, which is 0.6 percent behind it. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945’s nearest rival is the Intel Xeon Gold 6342, which is 0.9 percent ahead of it.

Q: Does the i7-6700K win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The recorded data shows zero wins for the Intel part and six wins for the AMD part across all Cinebench comparisons.

Q: What is the Ryzen’s multi-core advantage in raw score terms?

A: In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Ryzen leads by 32,059 points. In R20 multi-core, it leads by 13,465 points. In R15 multi-core, the lead is 3,231 points.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different design eras and philosophies. The Intel Core i7-6700K uses the Skylake architecture, built on Intel’s 14 nm process 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 AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 uses the Zen 4 architecture (codenamed Raphael), manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process. Its die area is reported as 2x 71 mm², with a total of 13,140 million transistors. It offers 12 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz.

Cache layouts differ substantially. The i7-6700K has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 is 1 MB per core, and its L3 is 64 MB shared. That eightfold increase in L3 capacity matters for workloads that repeatedly access larger datasets.

Memory support is another clear split. The Intel part supports DDR3 and DDR4, depending on the motherboard, on a dual-channel bus with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The AMD part supports DDR5 on a dual-channel bus with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Ryzen also supports ECC memory, while the i7-6700K does not.

PCIe capability follows the generational gap. Intel offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. AMD offers Gen 5 with 24 lanes from the CPU. Both chips include integrated graphics, but they are different implementations: Intel has HD Graphics 530, while AMD has Radeon Graphics. The i7-6700K has an unlocked multiplier; the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 does not.

The production status also diverges. The i7-6700K is end-of-life, released in August 2015. The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is active, released in June 2023. The Intel part carries a launch MSRP of $339; no launch MSRP is recorded for the AMD part. The market segment for Intel is Desktop; for AMD it is listed as Server/Workstation, despite fitting AM5.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is the superior processor in every measured benchmark category. If you are selecting between these two for a workload that relies on Cinebench-style rendering or multi-threaded compute, the Ryzen is not just faster; it is faster by a margin that borders on a different performance class. The smallest delta in any test is 80.8 percent, and that is the R23 multi-core result. Every other test shows an 80.9 percent delta.

The i7-6700K’s only statistical advantage in the database is its average benchmark score, which is higher at 12,237 versus 11,469. That average includes Passmark tests that are not part of the head-to-head set, and it reflects the Intel chip’s relatively balanced performance across a wider range of metrics. But for the specific Cinebench comparisons, the i7-6700K is consistently about five times slower than the Ryzen in both single-core and multi-core workloads.

The Ryzen’s 12 cores and 24 threads, combined with its 5.40 GHz boost clock and 64 MB L3 cache, explain the multi-core dominance. Its single-core lead, shown by the 5,598 R23 score against 1,072, indicates architectural efficiency that goes beyond core count. The i7-6700K, at 4 cores and 8 threads with a 4.20 GHz boost, is a product of an older process and design. The 14 nm node versus 5 nm node difference is stark.

The choice depends on the use case. For a modern workstation or server workload, the Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 is the clear pick. For legacy compatibility with DDR3 or DDR4 memory, the i7-6700K has that option, but it comes with a massive performance penalty. The i7-6700K’s unlocked multiplier and lower platform cost may appeal to a builder with an existing LGA 1151 motherboard, but the benchmark record does not support choosing it on performance grounds.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ on nearly every core specification. Core count: 4 for Intel, 12 for AMD. Threads: 8 versus 24. Base clock: 4.00 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. Boost clock: 4.20 GHz versus 5.40 GHz. TDP: 91 watts for Intel, 65 watts for AMD. The AMD chip draws less power while delivering dramatically more performance, according to the recorded benchmarks.

Socket and platform: Intel uses Socket 1151; AMD uses Socket AM5. Process node: 14 nm for Intel, 5 nm for AMD. Foundry: Intel for the i7-6700K, TSMC for the Ryzen. Die size: 122 mm² for Intel, 2x 71 mm² for AMD. Transistor count: not recorded for Intel, 13,140 million for AMD.

Cache: L1 is identical at 64 KB per core. L2 differs, with Intel at 256 KB per core and AMD at 1 MB per core. L3 differs massively, with Intel at 8 MB shared and AMD at 64 MB shared. Memory support: Intel supports DDR3 and DDR4 depending on the motherboard; AMD supports DDR5. Memory bandwidth: 34.1 GB/s for Intel, 83.2 GB/s for AMD. ECC: not supported on Intel, supported on AMD. PCIe: Gen 3 with 16 lanes for Intel, Gen 5 with 24 lanes for AMD. Integrated graphics: HD Graphics 530 versus Radeon Graphics. Market segment: Desktop versus Server/Workstation. Production status: End-of-life versus Active. Release date: August 2015 versus June 2023. Multiplier unlocked: yes for Intel, no for AMD.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7945 wins all six head-to-head Cinebench tests. That includes both multi-core and single-core variants of R15, R20, and R23. The multi-core wins are expected given the 3x core count and 8x L3 cache difference. The single-core wins are more telling, as they show the Zen 4 architecture’s high boost clock and efficient execution. The Ryzen is the better choice for any Cinebench-style render workload, which is a proxy for video encoding, 3D modeling, and other heavily threaded tasks.

The Intel Core i7-6700K wins no head-to-head benchmark. However, the database’s average benchmark score favors Intel, and that average includes Passmark tests such as data compression, encryption, and integer math, where the i7-6700K records scores of 125,659, 3,067, and 28,144 respectively. These are not part of the direct comparison set, but they suggest the Intel chip maintains competitive throughput in certain single-threaded or memory-latency-sensitive tasks relative to its overall standing.

The Ryzen 9 PRO 7945’s nearest rivals are all enterprise-class parts, including the Intel Xeon Gold 6342 and AMD EPYC 73F3. The i7-6700K’s nearest rivals are mainstream desktop chips like the Intel Core i3-12100 and i3-10105. That placement in the database reflects their intended roles: the Ryzen is positioned for workstation or server duty, while the i7-6700K sits among entry-level desktop processors.

For a builder prioritizing raw compute power, the Ryzen is the only choice. For a builder constrained to an older platform with DDR3 or DDR4 memory, the i7-6700K remains functional, but the recorded data shows it is outclassed by a factor of five in the most demanding benchmarks. The Ryzen’s lower TDP of 65 watts, despite its higher performance, also makes it easier to cool in a compact workstation chassis.