Intel Core i5-7600T vs Intel Core i7-6700TE Comparison

The Intel Core i7-6700TE and the Intel Core i5-7600T are two 35-watt desktop processors locked in a tight statistical battle. Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the i7-6700TE holding a razor-thin 0.1% lead in the database’s aggregate metric. However, the data reveals a clear split in workload behavior: the Skylake-based i7-6700TE dominates in multi-threaded rendering tests, while the Kaby Lake-based i5-7600T surges ahead in Geekbench workloads. This is a matchup where the overall average masks two very different performance profiles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The i7-6700TE wins six of the eight head-to-head comparisons, and its victories are consistent across the Cinebench suite. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i7-6700TE scores 531 against the i5-7600T’s 500, a 6.2% advantage. The single-core R15 test tells a similar story, with the i7-6700TE posting 74 versus 70, a 5.7% lead. This pattern holds in newer Cinebench versions: R20 multi-core shows the i7-6700TE at 2214 versus 2086 (6.1% ahead), and R20 single-core shows 312 versus 294 (also 6.1% ahead). The margin remains at 6.1% in both R23 multi-core (5273 vs 4968) and R23 single-core (744 vs 701). The i7-6700TE’s 8 threads give it a measurable edge in Cinebench’s rendering workloads, and its per-core performance in these tests is also slightly higher despite its lower clock speeds.

The i5-7600T’s wins are decisive, but they come in a different benchmark family. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-7600T scores 3447 against the i7-6700TE’s 3154, an 8.5% advantage. The single-core Geekbench gap is even larger: 1246 versus 1028, a 17.5% margin for the i5-7600T. This is a significant reversal. The i5-7600T’s higher base and boost clocks (2.80 GHz and 3.70 GHz versus 2.40 GHz and 3.40 GHz) appear to drive its Geekbench performance, which favors bursty single-threaded execution. The i7-6700TE’s extra threads cannot compensate for the clock deficit in these tests.

The aggregate picture is nearly dead even. The i7-6700TE’s average benchmark score is 1666, while the i5-7600T sits at 1664. The database places both at the 40th percentile among all CPUs. The i7-6700TE’s nearest rival is the i5-7600T itself (0.1% delta), followed by the Core i7-4770HQ (0.4%), Xeon E-2124 (0.5%), and Core i5-4670K (0.6%). The i5-7600T’s rival list is inverted, with the i7-6700TE at -0.1% delta. Both processors are functionally tied in overall capability, but the workload-specific deltas are stark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700TE wins with a score of 5273, compared to the i5-7600T’s 4968. This represents a 6.1% advantage for the i7-6700TE.

Q: Does the i5-7600T beat the i7-6700TE in any benchmark?

A: Yes. The i5-7600T wins both Geekbench tests. It scores 3447 in multi-core versus 3154 (8.5% ahead) and 1246 in single-core versus 1028 (17.5% ahead).

Q: How do their overall average scores compare?

A: They are nearly identical. The i7-6700TE has an average benchmark score of 1666, while the i5-7600T has 1664. The delta between them is just 0.1%.

Q: What is the difference in thread count?

A: The i7-6700TE has 8 threads, while the i5-7600T has 4 threads. Both have 4 physical cores.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The i7-6700TE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, whereas the i5-7600T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Are both processors on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs belong to different Intel microarchitectures. The i7-6700TE is built on Skylake, while the i5-7600T uses Kaby Lake. Both are fabricated on the 14 nm node at Intel’s foundry, but the architectural generations differ in their design priorities. Skylake, released in late 2015, introduced the core design that Kaby Lake would later refine. Kaby Lake, released in early 2017, is a matured iteration of the same fundamental architecture, with optimizations that allow for higher clock speeds at the same power envelope.

The most consequential architectural difference is thread support. The i7-6700TE enables Hyper-Threading, giving it 8 threads across 4 cores. The i5-7600T does not, limiting it to 4 threads. This explains the i7-6700TE’s consistent wins in Cinebench, which scales well with thread count. The i5-7600T compensates with higher clock speeds: its base clock is 2.80 GHz and boost clock is 3.70 GHz, versus 2.40 GHz and 3.40 GHz for the i7-6700TE. The clock advantage is modest but sufficient to flip the Geekbench results, which are more sensitive to single-threaded burst performance.

Cache hierarchies also differ. The i7-6700TE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-7600T has 6 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The larger L3 cache on the i7-6700TE likely contributes to its rendering performance, as more data can be held closer to the cores during compute-heavy workloads. Memory bandwidth is another differentiator: the i7-6700TE is rated at 34.1 GB/s, while the i5-7600T reaches 38.4 GB/s, though both support DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus. Integrated graphics differ as well, with the i7-6700TE using HD Graphics 530 and the i5-7600T using HD 630.

Specification Differences

The two processors share several core specifications: both have 4 physical cores, a 35-watt TDP, an Intel Socket 1151 interface, Gen 3 PCIe with 16 CPU lanes, and no ECC memory support. They also both lack an unlocked multiplier, meaning neither is designed for overclocking. The differences are concentrated in a few key fields. The i7-6700TE has 8 threads versus 4 threads for the i5-7600T. Its base clock is 2.40 GHz versus 2.80 GHz, and its boost clock is 3.40 GHz versus 3.70 GHz. The i7-6700TE has 8 MB of L3 cache, while the i5-7600T has 6 MB. Memory bandwidth differs, with the i7-6700TE at 34.1 GB/s and the i5-7600T at 38.4 GB/s. The i7-6700TE uses the Skylake architecture and the HD Graphics 530 iGPU, while the i5-7600T uses Kaby Lake and HD 630 graphics. Their part numbers are SR2LP and SR336, respectively. The release dates are also different: the i7-6700TE launched on 2015-08-31, while the i5-7600T launched on 2017-01-02. Neither has a listed launch MSRP in the database.

The Verdict

The data points to a workload-dependent decision. The i7-6700TE is the clear choice for multi-threaded rendering tasks. Its 6.1% to 6.2% lead across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core tests is consistent and significant. The extra 4 threads and larger 8 MB L3 cache provide a tangible benefit in these scenarios. For users running Cinebench-class workloads, the i7-6700TE is the stronger processor.

The i5-7600T is the pick for Geekbench-oriented usage. Its 8.5% multi-core and 17.5% single-core advantages are substantial, driven by its higher clock speeds. Users whose applications resemble Geekbench’s mixed single-and-multi-threaded patterns will see better responsiveness from the i5-7600T.

The aggregate scores are a statistical tie, but the benchmark deltas are not. The i7-6700TE wins six of eight head-to-head comparisons, yet the i5-7600T’s Geekbench victories are larger in magnitude. The i7-6700TE’s wins are narrow but consistent; the i5-7600T’s wins are fewer but more decisive. A neutral analysis must note that both processors sit at the 40th percentile overall, and both are rated as Active production parts. The choice hinges entirely on whether the workload favors thread count or clock speed. The i7-6700TE for rendering, the i5-7600T for bursty single-threaded tasks. There is no all-around winner in this data, only a clear division of labor.