Intel Core i5-1035G4 vs Intel Core i5-6600K Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i5-1035G4 across every Cinebench test in the database. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i5-1035G4 scores 648 against 540 for the i5-6600K, a 20% advantage. The single-core result in the same test is similarly one-sided: 91 versus 76, a 19.7% lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the pattern holds exactly: multicore shows 2703 versus 2252 (20% ahead), while single-core shows 381 versus 317 (20.2% ahead). The newest workload, Cinebench R23, repeats the margin: multicore 6436 versus 5363 (20% ahead) and single-core 908 versus 757 (19.9% ahead). The i5-1035G4 wins all six head-to-head comparisons, with no wins recorded for the i5-6600K.

These deltas are consistent, hovering right around the 20% mark in every workload. That uniformity suggests the advantage is structural rather than workload-specific. The i5-1035G4 does not merely edge ahead in one type of rendering; it leads by nearly the same proportion whether the task uses one core or all of them. Benchmarks results indicate the i5-1035G4 is the faster processor in raw Cinebench performance across every measured scenario.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces this: the i5-1035G4 sits at 1861, while the i5-6600K sits at 1816. Both CPUs land in the 42nd percentile of all processors, meaning they occupy the same tier overall, but the newer mobile part does so with a higher absolute average. The nearest rivals for each part also show how close these two are in the broader field. The i5-1035G4's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-9350K at 1867 (0.3% higher), followed by the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v4 at 1869 (0.4% higher). The i5-6600K's closest rival is the Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 at 1817 (0.1% higher), with the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U at 1810 (0.3% lower). In other words, the i5-1035G4 competes with slightly faster desktop parts, while the i5-6600K trades blows with mobile and workstation chips of its era.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel design generations. The i5-1035G4 uses the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-U codename, built on a 10 nm process node. The i5-6600K uses Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process node. This node difference is central to why the i5-1035G4 achieves higher scores despite a much lower clock envelope. The i5-1035G4 has a base clock of 1100 MHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the i5-6600K starts at 3.50 GHz and boosts to 3.90 GHz. The Skylake part has the higher raw clock speeds, yet it loses every benchmark, which points to the efficiency and IPC gains of Ice Lake.

Core and thread counts also differ. The i5-1035G4 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the i5-6600K has 4 cores and 4 threads. The Hyper-Threading advantage on the mobile part explains part of the multicore margin, but the single-core tests also favor the i5-1035G4 by roughly 20%, so the architectural uplift goes beyond thread count. Cache layouts are similar in size but not identical in organization. The i5-1035G4 has 80 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The i5-6600K has 64 KB of L1 per core, the same 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3. The extra L1 capacity on the Ice Lake part is a small but measurable difference.

Memory support also separates them. The i5-1035G4 supports DDR4 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth rating of 51.2 GB/s. The i5-6600K supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also dual-channel, but its bandwidth rating is 34.1 GB/s. The i5-1035G4's higher memory bandwidth gives it more headroom for data-heavy workloads. Both parts have Gen 3 PCIe, though the i5-6600K lists 16 lanes for the CPU only, while the i5-1035G4 does not specify a lane count in the database.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i5-1035G4 carries Iris Plus graphics, while the i5-6600K has HD Graphics 530. The i5-1035G4 is a mobile part on the Intel BGA 1526 socket, while the i5-6600K is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151. The i5-6600K has an unlocked multiplier, which means it can be overclocked, while the i5-1035G4 does not. The i5-6600K was released in August 2015 and is now end-of-life; the i5-1035G4 was released in July 2019 and remains active. The i5-6600K has a launch MSRP of $242, while the i5-1035G4 has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-1035G4 scores 6436, which is 20% higher than the i5-6600K's 5363.

Q: Does the i5-6600K win any benchmark in the head-to-head comparison?

A: No. The database records 6 wins for the i5-1035G4 and 0 wins for the i5-6600K across all tested Cinebench workloads.

Q: Why does the i5-1035G4 win despite having a lower boost clock?

A: The i5-1035G4 has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz compared to 3.90 GHz on the i5-6600K, but it uses a newer 10 nm Ice Lake architecture with 8 threads versus 4 threads. The single-core tests still favor the i5-1035G4 by about 20%, indicating architectural IPC gains offset the clock deficit.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are in the 42nd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The i5-1035G4 has an average benchmark score of 1861, while the i5-6600K has 1816.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The i5-1035G4 supports DDR4 only, with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth. The i5-6600K supports both DDR3 and DDR4, with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Can the i5-6600K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i5-6600K has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-1035G4 does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i5-1035G4 | Intel Core i5-6600K |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base clock | 1100 MHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost clock | 3.70 GHz | 3.90 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 91 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1526 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Ice Lake | Skylake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L1 cache | 80 KB per core | 64 KB per core |

| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| Integrated graphics | Iris Plus | HD Graphics 530 |

| Market segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release date | 2019-07-31 | 2015-08-04 |

| Launch MSRP | None recorded | $242 |

| Multiplier unlocked | No | Yes |

| Part number | SRGKK | SR2L4 |

Both parts share 4 cores, dual-channel memory, 256 KB L2 per core, 6 MB shared L3, Gen 3 PCIe, and no ECC support. The i5-6600K lists 16 PCIe lanes for the CPU only; the i5-1035G4 does not specify a lane count.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i5-1035G4 outperforms the Intel Core i5-6600K in every recorded Cinebench test, with margins between 19.7% and 20.2%. This is a decisive result, especially given that the i5-1035G4 does it with a 15 W TDP against the i5-6600K's 91 W. The mobile part is not just competitive; it is faster across the board while consuming a fraction of the power budget. The i5-6600K's higher clocks and unlocked multiplier do not compensate for the older Skylake architecture and the lack of Hyper-Threading.

For a buyer choosing between these two today, the i5-1035G4 is the clear performance pick. It wins every benchmark, has a newer architecture, supports higher memory bandwidth, and remains an active product. The i5-6600K is end-of-life, uses more power, and loses every comparison in the database. Its only advantages are the unlocked multiplier for overclocking and the broader memory compatibility with DDR3 support, but those do not translate into any benchmark win in the recorded data.

The i5-6600K still has a place in the 42nd percentile, matching the i5-1035G4's overall tier, but within that tier the newer part is simply the better performer. If the task is pure Cinebench rendering, the data says pick the i5-1035G4 without hesitation.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-1035G4 wins every measured workload. In multicore tests, the 20% lead appears across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. This is consistent with its 8 threads versus 4 threads and its more capable 10 nm architecture. In single-core tests, the same 20% margin appears, which shows the Ice Lake core itself is stronger per clock than Skylake. The i5-1035G4 also wins on memory bandwidth, with 51.2 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, and on power efficiency, with a 15 W TDP versus 91 W. It is the right choice for any workload where rendering speed, lower power draw, or newer platform features matter.

The i5-6600K has no benchmark wins in this comparison. Its strengths are qualitative rather than quantitative in the recorded data. It has an unlocked multiplier, so users who overclock may extract more performance than the stock scores show, but that potential is not reflected in the database results. It supports DDR3 memory, which could be useful in legacy systems with existing DDR3 modules. It also has 16 PCIe lanes for the CPU, which may matter for certain desktop expansion configurations. For a desktop builder with a Socket 1151 board and DDR3 memory already in hand, the i5-6600K offers a path to a working system, but the data shows it will trail the i5-1035G4 in every Cinebench test. The i5-1035G4 is the winner in every measured category, and the i5-6600K's only claims to relevance are its overclocking headroom and its compatibility with older memory standards.