CPU Comparison

The Intel Core i3-10105 and the Intel Core i7-6700K present a fascinating generational clash. Both are 4-core, 8-thread desktop parts, yet they are separated by nearly six years of Intel silicon evolution. The benchmark data reveals a near-total victory for the older i7-6700K in raw compute workloads, but the i3-10105 fights back in specific, modern instruction-heavy tasks. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, 12316 for the i3-10105 against 12237 for the i7-6700K, a delta of just 0.6%, yet the distribution of those wins tells a more nuanced story about what each chip prioritizes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-6700K dominates the headline CPU benchmarks with a consistent margin. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7-6700K scores 7594 against the i3-10105’s 7029, a 7.4% advantage. The single-core result is equally decisive: 1072 versus 992, a 7.5% gap. This pattern holds across the entire Cinebench suite, R15 multi-core shows 765 vs 708 (-7.5%), and R20 single-core shows 450 vs 416 (-7.6%). The older chip’s higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.20 GHz, compared to the i3’s 3.70 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost, appear to translate into tangible performance in these rendering workloads.

Geekbench amplifies the i7-6700K’s lead even further. The multi-core score of 5011 versus 4325 represents a substantial 13.7% gap, the largest margin in any benchmark here. Single-core Geekbench also favors the i7-6700K at 1442 versus 1319, an 8.5% difference. The PassMark suite reinforces this trend: PassMark multi-thread shows 8927 vs 8241 (-7.7%), and the physics test demonstrates a dramatic 637 vs 467 (-26.7%) split. Even integer-heavy workloads like PassMark find prime numbers show a 33.3% deficit for the i3-10105 (20 vs 30), highlighting the i7’s raw arithmetic strength.

However, the i3-10105 is not without its victories. The most notable win comes in PassMark single-thread, where it scores 2589 versus 2500, a 3.6% margin. This is a critical reversal, suggesting that despite the i7-6700K’s higher boost clock, the i3-10105’s newer architecture extracts more instructions per clock in certain single-threaded scenarios. The i3-10105 also wins PassMark extended instructions (8648 vs 8248, +4.8%), floating-point math (17949 vs 17375, +3.3%), and integer math (28577 vs 28144, +1.5%). Data compression and random string sorting are narrow victories as well, at 128464 vs 125659 (+2.2%) and 15899 vs 15788 (+0.7%) respectively. These wins suggest the i3-10105 has superior SIMD and integer execution units, even if its overall memory or cache hierarchy holds it back elsewhere.

Architecture Differences

Both processors are built on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but they represent different architectural families. The i7-6700K uses the Skylake architecture, released in 2015, while the i3-10105 uses the Comet Lake architecture, specifically the Comet Lake-R refresh, released in 2021. Comet Lake is itself a refined version of Skylake, but the improvements are visible in the benchmark data. The i7-6700K has a die size of 122 mm², while the i3-10105’s die size is not listed, but the newer chip compensates with a more efficient memory controller.

The cache hierarchy is a key differentiator. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The critical difference lies in L3 cache: the i3-10105 has 6 MB shared, while the i7-6700K has 8 MB shared. This 2 MB difference likely contributes to the i7-6700K’s dominance in multi-threaded benchmarks, as it can hold more working data closer to the cores. The i7-6700K also supports a wider memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s versus the i3-10105’s 42.7 GB/s, wait, that is reversed; the i3-10105 actually has higher memory bandwidth at 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. This explains why the i3-10105 wins in data compression and extended instructions, where memory throughput matters more than raw cache capacity.

The i7-6700K has an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable, while the i3-10105 is locked. The i7-6700K also has a higher TDP of 91 watts versus 65 watts for the i3-10105, indicating a thirstier design. Socket compatibility differs entirely: the i7-6700K uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i3-10105 uses Intel Socket 1200. Memory support also diverges, the i7-6700K supports DDR3 and DDR4 (depending on motherboard), while the i3-10105 supports only DDR4. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-10105 has UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-6700K has HD Graphics 530. Finally, production status matters: the i7-6700K is end-of-life, while the i3-10105 is still active.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-6700K wins 12 of 19 head-to-head benchmarks, including every single Cinebench test, both Geekbench tests, and the PassMark multi-thread and physics tests. If your workload is rendering, physics simulation, or any compute-heavy task that scales with cache and high sustained clocks, the i7-6700K is the superior choice. Its 8 MB of L3 cache and higher base clock give it a persistent edge in multi-threaded scenarios, with margins ranging from 7.4% to 13.7% in the most demanding tests.

The Intel Core i3-10105 wins 7 benchmarks, but they are concentrated in specific areas: single-thread PassMark, extended instructions, floating-point math, and data compression. The i3-10105’s higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s vs 34.1 GB/s) makes it better suited for data-streaming tasks. Its PassMark single-thread score of 2589 is the single most impressive result, beating the i7-6700K by 3.6%. For users running modern instruction sets (AVX, AES-NI) or memory-bandwidth-sensitive workloads, the i3-10105 is the better buy.

However, the verdict is tempered by external factors. The i7-6700K is end-of-life, meaning no new supply and potential platform obsolescence. The i3-10105 is active, on a current socket, and has a lower TDP of 65 watts. The i7-6700K’s launch MSRP was $339, while the i3-10105’s was $122. For a new build, the i3-10105 offers a more modern platform with comparable average performance (12316 vs 12237, a 0.6% delta). For an existing Socket 1151 system, the i7-6700K remains a viable upgrade if raw compute is the priority. The data suggests neither is a clear winner, they are two different tools for two different jobs.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-10105 has an average benchmark score of 12316, while the Intel Core i7-6700K scores 12237. The i3-10105 is 0.6% higher, making them statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Why does the i7-6700K win so many more benchmarks?

A: The i7-6700K has 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus 6 MB on the i3-10105, and a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. These factors give it an edge in multi-threaded workloads like Cinebench R23 (7594 vs 7029) and Geekbench multi-core (5011 vs 4325).

Q: In which benchmark does the i3-10105 have its largest win?

A: The i3-10105’s largest win is in PassMark extended instructions, where it scores 8648 versus 8248, a 4.8% advantage. It also wins PassMark single-thread by 3.6% (2589 vs 2500).

Q: What is the most significant performance gap between the two?

A: The largest gap is in Geekbench multi-core, where the i7-6700K leads by 13.7% (5011 vs 4325). The second-largest is PassMark physics, where the i7-6700K leads by 26.7% (637 vs 467).

Q: Can the i7-6700K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i7-6700K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The i3-10105 has a locked multiplier and cannot be overclocked.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory types?

A: No. The i3-10105 supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i7-6700K supports DDR3 and DDR4 depending on the motherboard, with dual-channel bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Core i7-6700K wins in every multi-threaded rendering benchmark, making it the choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, and physics simulation. Its 8 MB L3 cache and 4.00 GHz base clock deliver consistent wins in Cinebench R15/R20/R23 multi-core (by 7.4-7.5%) and R15/R20/R23 single-core (by 7.5-8.3%). It also excels in Geekbench multi-core (13.7% lead) and PassMark physics (26.7% lead). The i7-6700K is the better processor for any workload that relies on sustained multi-threaded execution or large dataset caching.

Intel Core i3-10105 wins in single-thread PassMark (3.6% lead), extended instructions (4.8% lead), floating-point math (3.3% lead), and integer math (1.5% lead). Its 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth is the key advantage, allowing it to process data streams faster. This makes it the better choice for encryption/decryption workloads (PassMark data compression win of 2.2%), scientific computing with SIMD operations, and any task that benefits from higher memory throughput. The i3-10105 also wins in random string sorting (0.7% lead) and PassMark single-thread, suggesting better per-core efficiency in modern instruction sets.

The production status is a decisive factor: the i7-6700K is end-of-life, while the i3-10105 is active. For a new system build, the i3-10105 offers a current socket (1200) and lower TDP (65 watts). For an upgrade on an existing Socket 1151 platform, the i7-6700K’s performance lead in traditional benchmarks makes it the logical choice. The data shows a generational trade-off: the i7-6700K wins the legacy benchmarks, but the i3-10105 wins the modern instruction-heavy tasks.