Intel Core i7-5850HQ vs Intel Core i7-6700TE Comparison

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the Intel Core i7-5850HQ outperforms the Intel Core i7-6700TE across every single Cinebench test recorded, with a consistent lead of roughly 10.6% to 10.8%. The i7-5850HQ secures all six head-to-head wins, while the i7-6700TE fails to claim a single victory. This uniform margin suggests a fundamental performance gap rather than workload-specific variance, making the i7-5850HQ the clear choice for raw compute throughput in this comparison.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking pattern in the data is the consistency of the i7-5850HQ's advantage. In Cinebench R15, the i7-5850HQ scores 588 points in multi-core versus 531 for the i7-6700TE, a 10.7% lead. The single-core R15 test tells the same story: 82 points against 74, a 10.8% edge. This is not a case of one chip winning on multi-threaded workloads while the other excels at single-threaded tasks—the i7-5850HQ dominates both.

Moving to newer Cinebench versions, the margin holds steady. In R20 multi-core, the i7-5850HQ posts 2451 against 2214, again a 10.7% win. The R20 single-core result shows 345 versus 312, a 10.6% advantage. The R23 tests mirror this exactly: multi-core sees 5836 versus 5273 (10.7% delta), and single-core sees 823 versus 744 (10.6% delta). The narrow spread between 10.6% and 10.8% across all six tests indicates that the performance difference is architectural and consistent, not dependent on the specific benchmark generation.

The i7-6700TE does have additional Geekbench scores in its record—3154 multi-core and 1028 single-core—but the i7-5850HQ has no corresponding Geekbench data for direct comparison. Within the shared Cinebench suite, however, the i7-5850HQ is the undisputed winner. Its average benchmark score of 1688 also edges out the i7-6700TE's 1666, reinforcing the head-to-head results.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-5850HQ wins in every measurable category provided. For multi-threaded rendering tasks, it delivers a 10.7% higher R23 multi-core score, making it the superior choice for video encoding, 3D rendering, and other parallel workloads. For single-threaded responsiveness, it maintains a 10.6% to 10.8% lead across R15, R20, and R23, which translates to better performance in lightly-threaded applications like legacy games or everyday productivity software.

The i7-6700TE's only advantage is indirect. It has a lower TDP of 35 watts versus 47 watts for the i7-5850HQ, suggesting it generates less heat and may be easier to cool in compact systems. However, benchmark results show no corresponding performance benefit from that efficiency—it simply trails in all compute tests. The i7-6700TE also has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s versus 29.9 GB/s, but this does not manifest in any Cinebench advantage. In practical terms, the i7-5850HQ is the pick for anyone prioritizing execution speed, while the i7-6700TE might suit a build where power draw is the primary constraint.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures. The i7-5850HQ is built on Broadwell, specifically the Broadwell-H codename, while the i7-6700TE uses Skylake. Both are fabricated on Intel's 14 nm process node, and both use the same foundry, so the manufacturing technology is identical. The die size differs, though: the i7-5850HQ measures 182 mm², while the i7-6700TE's die size is not listed in the data.

Cache configuration is a notable divergence. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, but the shared L3 cache differs. The i7-5850HQ has 6 MB of shared L3, while the i7-6700TE has 8 MB of shared L3. That extra 2 MB of L3 cache on the i7-6700TE does not translate into a performance win, as the benchmark scores show the i7-5850HQ ahead despite its smaller cache pool.

Integrated graphics also separate the two. The i7-5850HQ features Iris Pro Graphics 6200, while the i7-6700TE ships with HD Graphics 530. Both are integrated solutions, but the data does not include any graphics benchmarks, so the performance impact remains unquantified. The memory support differs as well: the i7-5850HQ uses DDR3, while the i7-6700TE uses DDR4. Combined with the memory bandwidth figures of 29.9 GB/s and 34.1 GB/s respectively, the i7-6700TE has a theoretical memory advantage, yet it still loses in CPU-bound tests.

Specification Differences

The core and thread counts are identical: both are 4-core, 8-thread processors. The clock speeds, however, favor the i7-5850HQ. Its base clock is 2.70 GHz compared to 2.40 GHz for the i7-6700TE, and its boost clock reaches 3.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz. This clock advantage aligns with the consistent 10%+ benchmark lead.

The socket types are incompatible. The i7-5850HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, a soldered mobile-style socket, while the i7-6700TE uses Intel Socket 1151, a standard desktop socket. This means they are not interchangeable in the same motherboard. The TDP also differs, with the i7-5850HQ at 47 watts and the i7-6700TE at 35 watts, indicating the i7-6700TE is the more power-efficient part.

Market positioning and availability diverge sharply. The i7-5850HQ is marked as end-of-life, while the i7-6700TE is listed as active. The i7-5850HQ has a launch MSRP of $434, while the i7-6700TE has no recorded launch MSRP. The i7-5850HQ was released on 2015-06-01, and the i7-6700TE followed on 2015-08-31. Neither has an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not an option for either. The part numbers are SR2BH for the i7-5850HQ and SR2LP for the i7-6700TE. Both support PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher multi-core Cinebench R23 score?

A: The Intel Core i7-5850HQ scores 5836, which is 10.7% higher than the Intel Core i7-6700TE's 5273.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the i7-6700TE wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 6 wins for the i7-5850HQ and 0 wins for the i7-6700TE across all recorded Cinebench tests.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The i7-5850HQ has a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost of 3.60 GHz, while the i7-6700TE has a base of 2.40 GHz and a boost of 3.40 GHz.

Q: Do they use the same socket?

A: No. The i7-5850HQ uses Intel BGA 1364, while the i7-6700TE uses Intel Socket 1151, making them incompatible with the same motherboards.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-6700TE has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-5850HQ has 6 MB. Despite this, the i7-5850HQ performs better in all Cinebench tests.

Q: What are the TDP ratings?

A: The i7-5850HQ has a TDP of 47 watts, and the i7-6700TE has a TDP of 35 watts, making the i7-6700TE the lower-power part.

The Verdict

The data makes the decision straightforward: the Intel Core i7-5850HQ is the faster processor. It wins all six head-to-head benchmarks with a consistent margin between 10.6% and 10.8%, and its average benchmark score of 1688 exceeds the i7-6700TE's 1666. Anyone building a system where CPU compute performance is the priority should choose the i7-5850HQ, provided the BGA 1364 socket is acceptable.

The i7-6700TE is not without merit, but its advantages are not performance-based. Its 35-watt TDP is significantly lower than the i7-5850HQ's 47 watts, which could be critical for small-form-factor or low-noise builds. It also uses DDR4 memory and has a higher theoretical memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, plus a larger 8 MB L3 cache. Its active production status means it is still available, while the i7-5850HQ is end-of-life.

For raw compute, however, the i7-5850HQ's higher clock speeds translate directly into benchmark dominance. The i7-6700TE's additional cache and memory bandwidth do not overcome that clock deficit. The verdict is clear: pick the i7-5850HQ for performance, pick the i7-6700TE for a lower-power, actively-produced alternative on Socket 1151, but accept that you will sacrifice roughly 10.7% multi-core and single-core performance in the process.