Intel Core i5-6400 vs Intel Core i5-760 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-760 and Intel Core i5-6400 are both quad-core desktop processors with four threads, but they come from different eras of Intel's lineup. The i5-760 is a Nehalem-based chip from 2010, while the i5-6400 is a Skylake part from 2015. In the database's head-to-head Cinebench results, the older i5-760 wins every single test, often by a margin of roughly 28 percent. The i5-6400 counters with a lower TDP, integrated graphics, and newer memory support, but it does not claim a single benchmark victory in the recorded data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Core i5-760 runs at 2.80 GHz, while the i5-6400 has a base clock of 2.70 GHz.

Q: How much L3 cache does each CPU have?

A: The i5-760 has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i5-6400 has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The i5-760 has a TDP of 95 watts, while the i5-6400 is rated at 65 watts.

Q: Does the i5-6400 include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the i5-6400 features HD Graphics 530. The i5-760 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The i5-6400 supports DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i5-760 uses DDR3 memory.

Q: What are the release dates?

A: The i5-760 was released on 2010-07-17, and the i5-6400 followed on 2015-07-01.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data is one-sided. The i5-760 wins all six Cinebench tests recorded in the head-to-head comparison, covering R15, R20, and R23 in both multi-core and single-core modes. Its victory margins range from 27.5 percent to 28 percent. The i5-6400 does not win any of these tests. However, the i5-6400 has its own advantages outside raw compute scores. It includes integrated graphics, which the i5-760 lacks, and its lower TDP of 65 watts makes it a more power-efficient choice for compact or thermally constrained systems. The i5-6400 also supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3, which are newer standards. In the database, the i5-6400 also has Geekbench scores (multi-core 3134, single-core 1048), but the i5-760 has no Geekbench results, so no direct comparison is possible there.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs represent distinct architectural generations. The i5-760 is built on Intel's Nehalem architecture with the Lynnfield codename, fabricated on a 45 nm process. The i5-6400 uses the Skylake architecture, also codenamed Skylake, on a 14 nm process. This process shrink is a major differentiator, as the i5-760 has a die size of 296 mm² and contains 774 million transistors, while the i5-6400's die size is 177 mm² and its transistor count is not listed in the database.

The memory controllers differ as well. The i5-760 supports dual-channel DDR3, while the i5-6400 supports dual-channel DDR4 and has a specified memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. PCIe connectivity also advances: the i5-760 offers PCIe Gen 2 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the i5-6400 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The i5-6400 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), a feature entirely absent from the i5-760. The L3 cache sizes differ, with the i5-760 having 8 MB shared and the i5-6400 having 6 MB shared. Both CPUs have the same L1 and L2 cache per core: 64 KB and 256 KB respectively.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Base clock: i5-760 at 2.80 GHz, i5-6400 at 2.70 GHz
• Boost clock: i5-760 at 3.33 GHz, i5-6400 at 3.30 GHz
• TDP: 95 W for i5-760, 65 W for i5-6400
• Socket: Intel Socket 1156 for i5-760, Intel Socket 1151 for i5-6400
• Architecture: Nehalem (Lynnfield) vs Skylake
• Process node: 45 nm vs 14 nm
• L3 cache: 8 MB shared vs 6 MB shared
• Memory support: DDR3 vs DDR4
• Memory bandwidth: Not specified for i5-760, 34.1 GB/s for i5-6400
• PCIe: Gen 2, 16 lanes vs Gen 3, 16 lanes
• Integrated graphics: None vs HD Graphics 530
• Die size: 296 mm² vs 177 mm²
• Transistors: 774 million vs not specified
• Release date: 2010-07-17 vs 2015-07-01
• Launch MSRP: Not available for i5-760, $182 for i5-6400
• Part number: SLBRP vs SR2L7

Both CPUs share the same core and thread count (4 and 4), identical L1 and L2 cache sizes per core, dual-channel memory bus, no ECC support, and a locked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Cinebench results consistently favor the i5-760. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-760 scores 466 against the i5-6400's 364, a 28 percent advantage. The single-core R15 test shows a similar gap: 65 versus 51, a 27.5 percent lead. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-760 posts 1942 in multi-core versus 1517 for the i5-6400, again a 28 percent difference. In R20 single-core, the scores are 273 and 214, a 27.6 percent margin. Cinebench R23 multi-core gives the i5-760 4624 and the i5-6400 3614, a 27.9 percent lead. Finally, R23 single-core shows 652 versus 510, a 27.8 percent advantage.

These results indicate that the i5-760 outperforms the i5-6400 by roughly 28 percent across all Cinebench workloads, both multi-threaded and single-threaded. The consistency of the margin suggests a fundamental performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. The i5-6400's newer architecture and smaller process node do not translate into higher Cinebench scores in this comparison. The i5-6400 does have Geekbench results (multi-core 3134, single-core 1048), but since the i5-760 lacks Geekbench data, no head-to-head comparison can be made for that benchmark suite.

In the broader database context, the i5-760 has an average benchmark score of 1337, placing it at the 35th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-4590T (average score 1340, delta -0.2 percent), the i5-4460S (1330, delta 0.5 percent), the i5-2500K (1329, delta 0.6 percent), and the i5-4670 (1347, delta -0.8 percent). The i5-6400 has an average score of 1307, also at the 35th percentile. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Opteron 6328 (1304, delta 0.2 percent), the AMD Athlon Gold 7220U (1311, delta -0.3 percent), the Intel Core i7-3770T (1314, delta -0.5 percent), and the Intel Core i7-3610QE (1297, delta 0.8 percent). Both CPUs sit in the same performance percentile, but the i5-760 holds a slight edge in average score.

The head-to-head data shows a clear winner in raw compute performance. The i5-760's older architecture still delivers higher Cinebench scores, likely due to its higher clock speeds and larger L3 cache. The i5-6400's advantages lie in power efficiency, integrated graphics, and support for newer memory and PCIe standards, but those do not appear in the Cinebench results. For users prioritizing multi-threaded and single-threaded rendering workloads, the i5-760 is the stronger choice according to the database.