Intel Core i5-6600T vs Intel Core i7-4760HQ Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-4760HQ wins every single head-to-head comparison in this matchup, taking all six benchmark tests. The i7-4760HQ leads by margins ranging from 11.3% to 11.8% across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both single-core and multi-core workloads. The Intel Core i5-6600T, despite being a newer Skylake part on a 14 nm process, cannot overcome the i7-4760HQ’s threading advantage and higher per-core performance in these tests.

Given the data, the Intel Core i7-4760HQ is the clear pick for anyone prioritizing raw compute performance in multi-threaded applications, as its eight threads versus the i5-6600T's four threads deliver consistent advantages. However, the i5-6600T holds its own in efficiency-oriented contexts, with a 35W TDP versus the i7-4760HQ's 47W, and it supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory while the i7-4760HQ is limited to DDR3. The overall average benchmark scores are close — 1563 for the i5-6600T versus 1549 for the i7-4760HQ — but the i5-6600T's average is buoyed by Geekbench results that the i7-4760HQ lacks in the data set. In the Cinebench tests where both are measured, the i7-4760HQ is consistently ahead.

For a desktop user with a Socket 1151 motherboard, the i5-6600T is the only compatible choice, as the i7-4760HQ uses the BGA 1364 socket and is a mobile part. For anyone building or upgrading a laptop or compact mobile system with the i7-4760HQ's socket, the performance data favors it decisively. The percentile rankings are nearly identical — 39th for the i5-6600T and 38th for the i7-4760HQ — suggesting both sit in a similar tier relative to all CPUs, but the head-to-head results show the i7-4760HQ is the stronger performer in every measured Cinebench workload.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the head-to-head data is the consistency of the i7-4760HQ's advantage. Across all six Cinebench tests, the deltaPct hovers tightly between -11.3% and -11.8%, indicating a uniform performance gap that does not widen or narrow depending on workload type. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-4760HQ scores 539 against the i5-6600T's 478, a margin of 11.3%. The single-core R15 test shows a slightly larger gap: 76 versus 67, or 11.8%.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the i7-4760HQ posts 2249 in multi-core versus 1992 for the i5-6600T, again an 11.4% difference. In single-core R20, the scores are 317 and 280, a delta of 11.7%. The R23 results continue the trend: multi-core shows 5355 for the i7-4760HQ against 4745 for the i5-6600T (11.4% difference), and single-core shows 756 versus 669 (11.5% difference). The consistency of these deltas — all within a 0.5 percentage point range — suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than workload-specific quirks.

The i5-6600T does have one measurement category where it is not compared directly: Geekbench multi-core and single-core scores exist for it (3104 and 1172, respectively), but the i7-4760HQ has no Geekbench data in the fact pack, so no head-to-head comparison is possible there. The average benchmark score tells a slightly different story, with the i5-6600T at 1563 and the i7-4760HQ at 1549, but this is because the i5-6600T's Geekbench results are included in its average while the i7-4760HQ's average is computed only from Cinebench scores. In the tests where both CPUs are measured, the i7-4760HQ wins every time.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and process nodes. The Intel Core i5-6600T is built on Skylake architecture using a 14 nm process, while the Intel Core i7-4760HQ uses Haswell architecture on a 22 nm process, codenamed Crystalwell. This process difference is significant: the i5-6600T's 14 nm node is newer and denser, yet the i7-4760HQ's die size is 264 mm² compared to the i5-6600T's 177 mm². The i7-4760HQ also packs 1,400 million transistors, whereas the i5-6600T's transistor count is not listed.

Both CPUs have four physical cores, but the i7-4760HQ doubles the thread count with Hyper-Threading, offering eight threads versus the i5-6600T's four. This explains the consistent multi-core advantage in the benchmarks. The cache hierarchies are identical in structure: both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics differ as well — the i5-6600T ships with UHD Graphics 530, while the i7-4760HQ includes Intel HD 5200.

Memory support diverges notably. The i5-6600T supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. The i7-4760HQ is restricted to DDR3 only, also dual-channel, with a lower memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. Neither CPU supports ECC memory, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The market segments differ fundamentally: the i5-6600T is a desktop part on Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-4760HQ is a mobile processor on Intel BGA 1364.

Specification Differences

The core specification differences between the two CPUs are substantial. The i5-6600T has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the i7-4760HQ runs at 2.10 GHz base and 3.30 GHz boost. Despite the i7-4760HQ's lower clock speeds, it wins all benchmark tests, demonstrating that its additional threads and other architectural factors more than compensate for the clock deficit.

Thermal design power differs by 12W: the i5-6600T is rated at 35W, while the i7-4760HQ is rated at 47W. The socket types are incompatible — the i5-6600T uses Intel Socket 1151, and the i7-4760HQ uses Intel BGA 1364. The process nodes differ as noted (14 nm versus 22 nm), as do the die sizes (177 mm² versus 264 mm²) and transistor counts (not listed versus 1,400 million).

The i5-6600T supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the i7-4760HQ supports only DDR3 with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The integrated graphics are different models: UHD Graphics 530 versus Intel HD 5200. The i5-6600T has a launch MSRP of $213, while no launch MSRP is listed for the i7-4760HQ. Neither CPU has an unlocked multiplier. The release dates differ by about five months — the i5-6600T was released in July 2015, and the i7-4760HQ in January 2014. Both are end-of-life products.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has better multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-4760HQ wins all three multi-core Cinebench tests. It scores 539 in R15 versus 478 for the i5-6600T, 2249 in R20 versus 1992, and 5355 in R23 versus 4745. The margins are consistently around 11.3-11.4%.

Q: How do the single-core scores compare?

A: The i7-4760HQ also wins single-core tests, with scores of 76 in R15, 317 in R20, and 756 in R23. The i5-6600T scores 67, 280, and 669 respectively. The deltas range from 11.5% to 11.8% in favor of the i7-4760HQ.

Q: Which CPU is more power-efficient?

A: The i5-6600T has a lower TDP at 35W compared to the i7-4760HQ's 47W. The i5-6600T also uses a newer 14 nm process node versus 22 nm for the i7-4760HQ, and it has a smaller die size at 177 mm² versus 264 mm².

Q: Can I use the same motherboard for both CPUs?

A: No. The i5-6600T uses Intel Socket 1151, while the i7-4760HQ uses Intel BGA 1364. These sockets are not interchangeable, and the i7-4760HQ is a mobile processor while the i5-6600T is a desktop part.

Q: What memory types does each CPU support?

A: The i5-6600T supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-4760HQ supports only DDR3 in dual-channel mode with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory.

Q: How do their overall benchmark averages compare?

A: The i5-6600T has an average benchmark score of 1563, and the i7-4760HQ has an average of 1549. The i5-6600T's average includes Geekbench scores (3104 multi-core, 1172 single-core) that are not available for the i7-4760HQ, which is why the averages are close despite the i7-4760HQ winning all Cinebench tests.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i7-4760HQ wins in every benchmark category where both CPUs have data. Its six head-to-head victories span both single-core and multi-core workloads across three Cinebench versions. The i7-4760HQ's advantage is most pronounced in single-core R15, where it leads by 11.8%, and narrowest in multi-core R15, where it leads by 11.3%. This CPU is the clear choice for any workload that relies on Cinebench-style rendering or computation, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The Intel Core i5-6600T wins in areas not covered by the benchmark suite. It has a lower TDP (35W versus 47W), making it more suitable for thermally constrained desktop builds or systems where power draw is a priority. It supports newer DDR4 memory alongside DDR3, and its memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s is 33% higher than the i7-4760HQ's 25.6 GB/s. The i5-6600T also offers a newer integrated graphics solution (UHD Graphics 530) and a smaller die size, which may appeal to builders seeking a compact, efficient desktop platform.

For use-case decisions, the data points in two directions. Anyone with a Socket 1151 desktop motherboard and a preference for DDR4 compatibility or lower power consumption should choose the i5-6600T, accepting its benchmark deficits in exchange for those platform advantages. Anyone with a BGA 1364 mobile platform or who prioritizes raw compute performance in Cinebench applications should choose the i7-4760HQ, which is ahead by more than 11% in every measured test. The i7-4760HQ's eight threads make it better suited for parallel workloads, while the i5-6600T's higher clock speeds (2.70 GHz base, 3.50 GHz boost versus 2.10 GHz and 3.30 GHz) do not translate into benchmark wins, suggesting the i7-4760HQ's architectural efficiency and threading overcome its clock deficit.