Intel Core i5-6600 vs Intel Core i7-4910MQ Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6600 and Intel Core i7-4910MQ are two end-of-life processors from different eras and market segments. The i5-6600 is a desktop Skylake part, while the i7-4910MQ is a mobile Haswell chip. The database shows a clear split: the i7 wins every Cinebench test, but the i5 wins every Geekbench test. This pattern raises questions about how each architecture handles different workloads, and the recorded numbers reveal a trade-off between thread count and architectural efficiency.

Where Each One Wins

The head-to-head results are unambiguous. The i7-4910MQ takes all six Cinebench tests, including R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core variants. The margins are consistent, ranging from 2.7% to 3.2%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i7 scores 5326 against the i5's 5161, a 3.1% lead. In single-core R23, it is 752 vs 728, a 3.2% lead. These are small but consistent advantages.

The i5-6600, however, dominates Geekbench. It scores 3755 in multi-core versus 3368 for the i7, an 11.5% advantage. In single-core, it scores 1239 versus 1116, an 11% lead. These are substantial margins, far larger than the i7's Cinebench wins.

What does this mean? Cinebench is a rendering workload that scales well with thread count. The i7 has 8 threads versus the i5's 4, which likely explains its edge there. Geekbench, on the other hand, is a more general-purpose benchmark that may favor the i5's higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) and newer Skylake architecture. The i5 also has a higher memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s) and supports DDR4, which could contribute to its Geekbench performance.

The average benchmark scores reflect this split. The i5-6600 has an average score of 1744, while the i7-4910MQ sits at 1716. That puts the i5 about 1.6% ahead overall, despite losing the majority of individual tests. The i5's Geekbench wins are so large that they outweigh the i7's smaller Cinebench victories.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different generations and process nodes. The i5-6600 is built on Intel's 14 nm Skylake architecture, while the i7-4910MQ uses the older 22 nm Haswell design. This node difference likely explains the i5's higher base clock (3.30 GHz vs 2.90 GHz) despite a lower TDP (35 W vs 47 W). The i7 compensates with a larger L3 cache (8 MB vs 6 MB) and Hyper-Threading, giving it 8 threads versus 4.

Memory support also differs. The i5 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i7 is limited to DDR3. The i5's memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s, compared to 25.6 GB/s for the i7. This is a significant gap that could affect memory-intensive workloads.

The integrated graphics are different: the i5 has UHD Graphics 530, the i7 has Intel HD 4600. The i5 is a desktop part (Socket 1151), the i7 is mobile (Socket G3). The i7 has a higher TDP (47 W) despite being mobile, which is unusual but reflects its older process.

The i7 has 1,400 million transistors, while the i5's transistor count is not recorded in the database. Both have the same die size of 177 mm². The i7 was released earlier (2014-01-19) than the i5 (2015-06-30). Both are end-of-life and have locked multipliers.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the choice depends on the workload. If your primary use is Cinebench-style rendering, the i7-4910MQ is the better pick. It wins every Cinebench test by a small but consistent margin, thanks to its extra threads and larger cache. The i7's 8 threads give it an edge in multi-threaded rendering, and its single-core performance is also slightly ahead.

If your work involves Geekbench-style general computing, the i5-6600 is clearly superior. It leads by double-digit percentages in both single-core and multi-core Geekbench tests. The i5's higher base clock, newer architecture, and faster memory support likely contribute to this.

The average benchmark score favors the i5 (1744 vs 1716), but that is a single aggregate number. The i7 wins more tests, but the i5 wins the ones that matter more in terms of margin. For a balanced system, the i5-6600 offers a higher average score and a lower launch MSRP ($224 vs $570). However, the i7-4910MQ is a mobile part, so it may be the only option for laptops.

The data suggests that the i5-6600 is the more efficient performer overall, given its lower TDP and higher average score. But the i7-4910MQ has a place in multi-threaded rendering scenarios where its thread count pays off.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more threads?

A: The Intel Core i7-4910MQ has 8 threads, while the Intel Core i5-6600 has 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock?

A: The i5-6600 has a base clock of 3.30 GHz, compared to 2.90 GHz for the i7-4910MQ.

Q: Which CPU supports DDR4 memory?

A: The i5-6600 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the i7-4910MQ only supports DDR3.

Q: Which CPU wins the Geekbench multi-core test?

A: The i5-6600 wins with a score of 3755, an 11.5% advantage over the i7-4910MQ's 3368.

Q: Which CPU has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-4910MQ has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-6600 has 6 MB.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of each?

A: The i5-6600 has a launch MSRP of $224, and the i7-4910MQ has a launch MSRP of $570.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records eight head-to-head tests. The i7-4910MQ wins six, the i5-6600 wins two. Let's walk through the biggest wins each way.

The i7's largest win is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where it scores 315 against the i5's 305, a 3.2% lead. The same margin appears in R23 single-core (752 vs 728). In multi-core, the i7 leads by 3.1% in R20 (2236 vs 2167) and R23 (5326 vs 5161). The R15 tests show a 3% lead in multi-core (536 vs 520) and 2.7% in single-core (75 vs 73). These are consistent, but none exceed 3.2%.

The i5's wins are far more decisive. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5 scores 3755 against 3368, an 11.5% advantage. In single-core, it scores 1239 against 1116, an 11% lead. These are the largest deltas in the entire comparison.

What does this tell us? The i7's thread advantage gives it a slight edge in Cinebench, but the i5's architectural improvements and higher clock speed produce a much larger advantage in Geekbench. The i5 also has a higher memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s vs 25.6 GB/s), which may help in Geekbench's memory tests.

The average benchmark scores align with this: the i5's 1744 average is higher than the i7's 1716. The i5 also sits at the 41st percentile of all CPUs, same as the i7, but its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-980X (1746) and AMD Ryzen 3 4300U (1742), while the i7's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 2700U (1715) and Intel Core i7-990X (1713). These are close, but the i5 edges ahead.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two processors:

• Threads: 4 (i5) vs 8 (i7)
• Base Clock: 3.30 GHz (i5) vs 2.90 GHz (i7)
• TDP: 35 W (i5) vs 47 W (i7)
• Socket: Intel Socket 1151 (i5) vs Intel Socket G3 (i7)
• Architecture: Skylake (i5) vs Haswell (i7)
• Process Node: 14 nm (i5) vs 22 nm (i7)
• L3 Cache: 6 MB (i5) vs 8 MB (i7)
• Memory Support: DDR3, DDR4 (i5) vs DDR3 (i7)
• Memory Bandwidth: 34.1 GB/s (i5) vs 25.6 GB/s (i7)
• Integrated Graphics: UHD Graphics 530 (i5) vs Intel HD 4600 (i7)
• Market Segment: Desktop (i5) vs Mobile (i7)
• Release Date: 2015-06-30 (i5) vs 2014-01-19 (i7)
• Launch MSRP: $224 (i5) vs $570 (i7)
• Transistors: Not recorded (i5) vs 1,400 million (i7)

Both have 4 cores, a boost clock of 3.90 GHz, dual-channel memory, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, no ECC support, and locked multipliers. The die size is identical at 177 mm².