Intel Core i5-10600 vs Intel Core i7-5930K Comparison

The Intel Core i5-10600 and the Intel Core i7-5930K are both six-core, twelve-thread desktop processors, but they belong to different eras of Intel’s lineup. The i5-10600 is a Comet Lake part from the 10th generation, while the i7-5930K is a Haswell-E part from the 5th generation. Benchmark data from the database shows a clear overall winner in the i5-10600, which secures all six recorded head-to-head victories across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23. The i7-5930K retains advantages in platform features such as quad-channel memory, a larger L3 cache, and more PCIe lanes, but the measured compute performance consistently favors the newer i5.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-10600 wins every benchmark category where both processors have recorded scores. In multi-core workloads, the i5-10600 posts 988 in Cinebench R15, 4119 in R20, and 9809 in R23, compared to the i7-5930K’s 886, 3692, and 8791 respectively. The margin is consistent at roughly 11.5% in each multi-core test. This means that for rendering, video encoding, compilation, or any heavily threaded task, the i5-10600 delivers a measurable performance advantage.

In single-core tests, the i5-10600 also leads by a similar margin. It scores 139 in Cinebench R15 single-core versus 125 for the i7-5930K, 581 versus 521 in R20, and 1384 versus 1241 in R23. These single-threaded advantages are slightly over 11% in every case. For everyday responsiveness, lightly threaded applications, and games that depend on single-core performance, the i5-10600 is the stronger option.

The i7-5930K does not win any of the six recorded head-to-head benchmarks. However, it is not without merits in other areas. The i7-5930K supports quad-channel DDR4 memory with a peak memory bandwidth of 68.3 GB/s, compared to the i5-10600’s dual-channel 42.7 GB/s. It also provides 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, versus 16 lanes on the i5-10600. These platform-level features benefit workloads that require high memory throughput or many expansion cards, such as multi-GPU compute or high-end storage arrays. The database does not include specific tests for memory bandwidth or PCIe throughput, so those advantages are qualitative.

Architecture Differences

The two processors are built on different process nodes and microarchitectures. The i5-10600 uses Intel’s 14 nm process with the Comet Lake architecture, while the i7-5930K uses Intel’s 22 nm process with the Haswell-E architecture. The i5-10600 is a newer design, released in April 2020, whereas the i7-5930K dates from August 2014. The i7-5930K is marked as end-of-life in production status, while the i5-10600 remains active.

Both have six cores and twelve threads, with identical per-core L1 and L2 cache sizes: 64 KB and 256 KB per core respectively. The L3 cache differs, with the i5-10600 offering 12 MB shared and the i7-5930K offering 15 MB shared. The i7-5930K has a larger die at 356 mm² and 2,600 million transistors, while the i5-10600’s die size and transistor count are not recorded.

Base and boost clocks differ substantially. The i5-10600 runs at 3.30 GHz base and boosts to 4.80 GHz, while the i7-5930K has a 3.50 GHz base and a 3.70 GHz boost. The i5-10600’s higher boost clock is a key factor in its single-core advantage. The i7-5930K has a much higher thermal design power at 140 watts, versus 65 watts for the i5-10600. The i5-10600 also includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-5930K has no integrated graphics.

The i7-5930K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the i5-10600’s multiplier is locked. The i7-5930K uses Intel Socket 2011-3, while the i5-10600 uses Intel Socket 1200. Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the i7-5930K uses a quad-channel memory bus and the i5-10600 uses dual-channel. Neither processor supports ECC memory.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records six direct comparisons between the two processors, all from the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-10600 scores 988 against 886 for the i7-5930K, a lead of 11.5%. In single-core R15, the i5-10600 scores 139 against 125, a lead of 11.2%. The margins are nearly identical across all tests.

Cinebench R20 multi-core sees the i5-10600 at 4119 versus 3692, an 11.6% advantage. Single-core R20 is 581 versus 521, an 11.5% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-10600 reaches 9809 versus 8791, again 11.6% ahead. The single-core R23 result is 1384 versus 1241, an 11.5% margin.

These consistent deltas indicate that the i5-10600’s advantage is not workload-specific but rather a general architectural improvement. The 11.5% to 11.6% range across both single and multi-core tests suggests that the i5-10600 benefits from its higher boost clock and newer microarchitecture across the board. The i7-5930K’s higher base clock of 3.50 GHz does not compensate for its lower 3.70 GHz boost ceiling.

The i7-5930K does have one additional benchmark in the database: Geekbench multi-core at 5715 and single-core at 1225. The i5-10600 does not have recorded Geekbench scores, so a direct comparison in that test is not possible. However, the pattern from Cinebench suggests the i5-10600 would likely lead there as well, though the database does not provide that data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core rendering?

A: The Intel Core i5-10600 wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 988 in R15, 4119 in R20, and 9809 in R23, versus 886, 3692, and 8791 for the i7-5930K. The advantage is approximately 11.5% in each case.

Q: Does the i7-5930K have any performance advantage over the i5-10600?

A: In the recorded benchmarks, the i7-5930K does not win any of the six head-to-head tests. However, it has qualitative platform advantages including quad-channel memory support with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth, 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, and a 15 MB L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors six-core twelve-thread parts?

A: Yes, both have six cores and twelve threads. They also share the same per-core L1 cache of 64 KB and L2 cache of 256 KB.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The i5-10600 has a thermal design power of 65 watts, while the i7-5930K is rated at 140 watts. The i7-5930K draws over twice the power under load.

Q: Can the i7-5930K be overclocked?

A: Yes, the i7-5930K has an unlocked multiplier. The i5-10600 does not have an unlocked multiplier.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The i5-10600 includes UHD Graphics 630. The i7-5930K has no integrated graphics, so a discrete GPU is required with that platform.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several recorded specifications. The i5-10600 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, while the i7-5930K has a 3.50 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The thermal design power is 65 watts for the i5-10600 and 140 watts for the i7-5930K. The i5-10600 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the i7-5930K uses Intel Socket 2011-3.

The architecture and process node differ: the i5-10600 is Comet Lake on 14 nm, and the i7-5930K is Haswell-E on 22 nm. The i7-5930K has a listed die size of 356 mm² and transistor count of 2,600 million, while the i5-10600 has no recorded values for those fields. The L3 cache is 12 MB shared on the i5-10600 versus 15 MB shared on the i7-5930K.

Memory support is DDR4 for both, but the i5-10600 uses a dual-channel bus with 42.7 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-5930K uses a quad-channel bus with 68.3 GB/s bandwidth. PCIe connectivity differs: the i5-10600 provides 16 Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, while the i7-5930K provides 40 Gen 3 lanes. The i5-10600 has integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the i7-5930K has no integrated graphics. The i7-5930K has an unlocked multiplier; the i5-10600 does not. The i5-10600 was released in April 2020 and is active in production, while the i7-5930K was released in August 2014 and is end-of-life.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous. The Intel Core i5-10600 outperforms the Intel Core i7-5930K in every measured workload, with a consistent 11.5% to 11.6% advantage across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests. The i5-10600 achieves this while using a 65 watt thermal design power, less than half of the i7-5930K’s 140 watts. The i5-10600 also includes integrated graphics and a higher boost clock of 4.80 GHz versus 3.70 GHz.

The i7-5930K retains relevance only for users who need its platform features. Its quad-channel memory support provides 68.3 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to 42.7 GB/s for the i5-10600, and its 40 PCIe Gen 3 lanes allow for more expansion devices. The larger 15 MB L3 cache and unlocked multiplier are also notable. However, none of these features translate into a benchmark win in the recorded data.

For general desktop use, productivity, rendering, and gaming, the i5-10600 is the better choice. It offers higher performance in all Cinebench tests, lower power consumption, and a modern socket with active production status. The i7-5930K is a legacy part that may appeal to users with existing Socket 2011-3 platforms or those requiring quad-channel memory and extensive PCIe connectivity. The database shows a clear winner: the i5-10600 wins all six head-to-head benchmarks, and the i7-5930K wins none.