Intel Core i5-6600K vs Intel Core i7-4870HQ Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-6600K and Intel Core i7-4870HQ are two very different processors that happen to land near each other in overall benchmark scores. The i5-6600K is a desktop part built on Skylake architecture with a 14 nm process, while the i7-4870HQ is a mobile chip on Haswell architecture with a 22 nm process. The data shows the i5-6600K wins 6 of the 8 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the i7-4870HQ wins 2. However, the margin of victory in most tests is essentially zero. The i5-6600K takes the Geekbench tests decisively, with a 4.2% lead in multi-core and a 19.2% lead in single-core. For anyone building a desktop system, the i5-6600K is the clear choice based on benchmark results alone. It offers higher clock speeds, better single-thread performance, and a socket that allows for system upgrades. The i7-4870HQ is a mobile processor, soldered to the board, and its only wins are by a single point in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 3 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, both within noise. The i7-4870HQ does bring 8 threads versus 4, which may help in some heavily threaded workloads, but the recorded benchmarks show that advantage does not translate into meaningful wins. Choose the i5-6600K if you need a desktop CPU with better single-core performance and a higher overall average benchmark score of 1816 versus 1769. Choose the i7-4870HQ only if you are constrained to a mobile platform and need its lower 47 W TDP and integrated Iris Pro graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and process nodes. The i5-6600K uses Skylake architecture fabricated on a 14 nm process, while the i7-4870HQ uses Haswell architecture, specifically the Crystalwell codename, on a 22 nm process. The transistor count reflects this gap: the i7-4870HQ packs 1,400 million transistors on a 264 mm² die, whereas the i5-6600K does not have transistor or die size figures recorded in the database. The i5-6600K is a desktop part for Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-4870HQ is a mobile part for Intel BGA 1364, meaning it is soldered directly to the motherboard. Both have 4 physical cores, but the i7-4870HQ adds Hyper-Threading for 8 threads total, while the i5-6600K runs 4 threads. Base clocks differ substantially: the i5-6600K starts at 3.50 GHz and boosts to 3.90 GHz, while the i7-4870HQ starts at 2.50 GHz and boosts to 3.70 GHz. The i5-6600K has a 91 W TDP, the i7-4870HQ a 47 W TDP. Cache layout is identical in structure: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 6 MB shared L3. Memory support differs: the i5-6600K supports DDR3 and DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-4870HQ supports only DDR3 with dual-channel and 25.6 GB/s. Both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The i5-6600K has HD Graphics 530 integrated, while the i7-4870HQ has Intel HD 5200. The i5-6600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking; the i7-4870HQ does not. The i5-6600K launched in August 2015 with a launch MSRP of $242, while the i7-4870HQ launched in June 2014 with no recorded MSRP. Both are end-of-life products.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows an unusual pattern: in most Cinebench tests, the two CPUs tie exactly. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, both score 540. In Cinebench R15 single-core, both score 76. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both score 317. In Cinebench R23 single-core, both score 757. The i7-4870HQ takes a 1-point win in Cinebench R20 multi-core, 2253 versus 2252, and a 3-point win in Cinebench R23 multi-core, 5366 versus 5363, a delta of -0.1% from the i5-6600K perspective. Those differences are negligible and likely within run-to-run variance. The real separation appears in Geekbench. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-6600K scores 3856 versus 3701 for the i7-4870HQ, a 4.2% advantage. In Geekbench single-core, the i5-6600K scores 1363 versus 1143, a 19.2% advantage. These Geekbench results indicate that the i5-6600K has a significantly stronger single-thread performance profile, which aligns with its higher base and boost clocks. The i7-4870HQ's extra threads do not produce a multi-core win in Geekbench; despite having 8 threads, it falls behind by 4.2%. The overall picture: the i5-6600K wins 6 benchmarks, the i7-4870HQ wins 2, and the margins in the i7's wins are so small they do not represent a real performance advantage. The average benchmark score in the database confirms this: the i5-6600K averages 1816 across all recorded tests, while the i7-4870HQ averages 1769. The i5-6600K sits at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs, the i7-4870HQ at the 41st. For context, the i5-6600K's nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 at 1817 (-0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U at 1810 (+0.3%), the Intel Xeon E5-1630 v3 at 1823 (-0.4%), and the Intel Core i3-9320 at 1808 (+0.4%). The i7-4870HQ's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 2400GE at 1766 (+0.2%), the Intel Xeon E5-2637 v3 at 1773 (-0.2%), the Intel Xeon E-2224 at 1762 (+0.4%), and the Intel Xeon E5-4610 v3 at 1777 (-0.4%). These rival comparisons show both CPUs sit in a crowded mid-range performance band, but the i5-6600K sits slightly higher.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better single-core performance?

A: The i5-6600K wins all single-core benchmark comparisons. In Geekbench single-core, it scores 1363 versus 1143 for the i7-4870HQ, a 19.2% advantage. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 single-core tests, both score identically at 76, 317, and 757 respectively.

Q: Does the i7-4870HQ's 8 threads give it a multi-core advantage?

A: No. Despite having 8 threads versus 4, the i7-4870HQ only wins Cinebench R20 multi-core by 1 point (2253 vs 2252) and Cinebench R23 multi-core by 3 points (5366 vs 5363). In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-6600K wins by 4.2% with a score of 3856 versus 3701.

Q: Are these CPUs still relevant for modern builds?

A: Both are end-of-life products. The i5-6600K was released in August 2015, and the i7-4870HQ in June 2014. The i5-6600K sits at the 42nd percentile among all CPUs and the i7-4870HQ at the 41st, meaning both are below average in current performance rankings.

Q: What are the TDP differences?

A: The i5-6600K has a 91 W TDP, while the i7-4870HQ has a 47 W TDP. The i7-4870HQ is a mobile processor designed for lower power consumption, while the i5-6600K is a desktop chip with higher power draw.

Q: Can I overclock either processor?

A: The i5-6600K has an unlocked multiplier, so it supports overclocking. The i7-4870HQ does not have an unlocked multiplier, so it does not support overclocking.

Q: Which CPU has better memory bandwidth?

A: The i5-6600K supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i7-4870HQ supports only DDR3 with a bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The i5-6600K has a 33% higher memory bandwidth figure.

Where Each One Wins

The i5-6600K is the winner in most scenarios. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 3856 is 4.2% higher than the i7-4870HQ's 3701, and its Geekbench single-core score of 1363 is 19.2% higher than 1143. For productivity applications that rely on single-thread responsiveness, such as web browsing, office work, and lightly threaded creative apps, the i5-6600K is the stronger pick. Its higher base clock of 3.50 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz give it a clear frequency advantage over the i7-4870HQ's 2.50 GHz base and 3.70 GHz boost. The i5-6600K also offers an unlocked multiplier, so users can push it further if cooling allows. Its support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory makes it more flexible for system builders. The i7-4870HQ's wins are narrow: a 1-point lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core and a 3-point lead in Cinebench R23 multi-core. These are effectively ties. The i7-4870HQ does have 8 threads, which could theoretically help in workloads that scale beyond 4 threads, but the recorded data shows no measurable benefit in the Cinebench multi-core tests. The i7-4870HQ's real advantages are its lower 47 W TDP, which makes it suitable for compact or mobile systems, and its Intel HD 5200 integrated graphics, which is a different GPU than the i5-6600K's HD Graphics 530. For desktop builders, the i5-6600K is the better choice across the board. For anyone stuck with a BGA 1364 mobile platform, the i7-4870HQ is the only option of the two.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ.

| Specification | Intel Core i5-6600K | Intel Core i7-4870HQ |

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

| Threads | 4 | 8 |

| Base Clock | 3.50 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.90 GHz | 3.70 GHz |

| TDP | 91 W | 47 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel BGA 1364 |

| Architecture | Skylake | Haswell |

| Codename | Skylake | Crystalwell |

| Generation | Core i5 (Skylake) | Core i7 (Crystal Well) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 22 nm |

| Transistors | Not recorded | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | Not recorded | 264 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR3, DDR4 | DDR3 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s | 25.6 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | HD Graphics 530 | Intel HD 5200 |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Release Date | 2015-08-04 | 2014-06-30 |

| Launch MSRP | $242 | Not recorded |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Part Number | SR2L4 | SR1ZX |

| Average Benchmark Score | 1816 | 1769 |

| Percentile vs All CPUs | 42 | 41 |

Both CPUs share the same core count (4), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), L3 cache (6 MB shared), dual-channel memory bus, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and lack ECC memory support. The i5-6600K wins on clock speed, memory bandwidth, and memory flexibility. The i7-4870HQ wins on thread count and power efficiency. The benchmark data favors the i5-6600K, particularly in Geekbench, where its single-core score is 19.2% higher. The i7-4870HQ's only meaningful advantage in the recorded tests is its thread count, but that does not translate into a win in any benchmark except by a single digit in two Cinebench tests. For a desktop user, the i5-6600K is the superior processor. For a mobile user, the i7-4870HQ exists as a lower-power alternative, but the performance data shows it cannot keep up with the i5-6600K in most tests.