Intel Core i7-6700K vs Intel Xeon Gold 6348 Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data presents an unambiguous outcome: the Intel Xeon Gold 6348 wins every single head-to-head comparison against the Intel Core i7-6700K. Across six Cinebench tests, the Xeon Gold 6348 secures all six wins, while the Core i7-6700K records zero victories. The margin is not close; it is overwhelming in every category, from single-core to multi-core workloads. The database shows the Xeon Gold 6348 delivering roughly 480% higher scores across all Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 tests, both single-core and multi-core variants.

For users building a server or workstation, the Xeon Gold 6348 is the only rational choice from this data. Its 28 cores, 56 threads, and 42 MB of shared L3 cache place it in a completely different performance class. For desktop users, the Core i7-6700K remains a legacy part, now end-of-life, with 4 cores and 8 threads. The data does not support any scenario where the Core i7-6700K wins on raw compute performance. However, the Core i7-6700K is a desktop part with integrated graphics, an unlocked multiplier, and a launch MSRP of $339. Those features matter for specific use cases, but they do not appear in the benchmark scores.

The overall average benchmark score reinforces this gap. The Xeon Gold 6348 averages 12,746 points across its recorded benchmarks, while the Core i7-6700K averages 12,237 points. Interestingly, both CPUs sit at the 67th percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning their average scores place them in similar company relative to the broader market. The nearest rivals for the Xeon Gold 6348 include the Intel Core i5-8400 with an average score of 12,765 (0.2% higher), the AMD EPYC 7502 at 12,709 (0.3% lower), and the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990X at 12,786 (0.3% lower). The Core i7-6700K's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-10105 at 12,316 (0.6% higher), the Intel Core i3-12100 at 12,054 (1.5% lower), and the Intel Xeon Gold 6314U at 12,026 (1.8% lower). Both CPUs sit in a crowded performance band, but the Xeon Gold 6348 achieves its average with far fewer benchmark entries, all of which are Cinebench tests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is stark. The Xeon Gold 6348 is built on Intel's Ice Lake-SP architecture, fabricated on a 10 nm process node. It uses the Intel Socket 4189 platform, which is designed for server and workstation deployments. The Core i7-6700K, by contrast, uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process node and fits into the Intel Socket 1151 platform, a desktop-oriented socket. The process node difference alone explains a substantial portion of the performance gap: 10 nm versus 14 nm allows the Xeon Gold 6348 to pack far more transistors and cores into its design.

The core counts differ by a factor of seven. The Xeon Gold 6348 offers 28 cores and 56 threads, while the Core i7-6700K offers 4 cores and 8 threads. The Xeon Gold 6348 runs at a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The Core i7-6700K has a higher base clock of 4.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. Despite the higher clock speeds on the Core i7-6700K, the Xeon Gold 6348 wins every benchmark, indicating that core count and architecture efficiency outweigh raw clock speed.

Cache configurations also diverge sharply. The Xeon Gold 6348 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 42 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-6700K has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon Gold 6348's L3 cache is over five times larger, which helps with multi-threaded workloads that require frequent data sharing between cores.

Memory support further separates the two. The Xeon Gold 6348 supports DDR4 memory across an eight-channel memory bus, delivering a theoretical memory bandwidth of 204.8 GB/s. The Core i7-6700K supports DDR3 and DDR4 depending on the motherboard, uses a dual-channel memory bus, and delivers 34.1 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Xeon Gold 6348 also supports ECC memory, while the Core i7-6700K does not. PCIe connectivity differs as well: the Xeon Gold 6348 provides Gen 4 with 64 lanes from the CPU, while the Core i7-6700K provides Gen 3 with 16 lanes.

The production status also differs. The Xeon Gold 6348 is listed as Active, while the Core i7-6700K is End-of-life. The release dates show the Xeon Gold 6348 launching in April 2021, while the Core i7-6700K launched in August 2015. The Xeon Gold 6348 has no integrated graphics, while the Core i7-6700K includes HD Graphics 530. The multiplier on the Core i7-6700K is unlocked, allowing overclocking, while the Xeon Gold 6348 is locked.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data shows a consistent pattern of dominance. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Xeon Gold 6348 scores 4,441 points versus 765 points for the Core i7-6700K, a delta of 480.5%. In Cinebench R15 single-core, the Xeon Gold 6348 scores 626 points versus 108 points, a delta of 479.6%. The single-core result is particularly telling because the Core i7-6700K has a higher base and boost clock, yet the Xeon Gold 6348 still wins by nearly the same margin as the multi-core test.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the Xeon Gold 6348 scores 18,507 points in multi-core, while the Core i7-6700K scores 3,189 points, a delta of 480.3%. In single-core, the Xeon Gold 6348 scores 2,612 points versus 450 points, a delta of 480.4%. The margins are nearly identical across all tests, suggesting that the Xeon Gold 6348's advantage is not workload-specific but rather a fundamental architectural superiority.

Cinebench R23 follows the same pattern. The Xeon Gold 6348 scores 44,066 points in multi-core, compared to 7,594 points for the Core i7-6700K, a delta of 480.3%. In single-core, the Xeon Gold 6348 scores 6,221 points versus 1,072 points, a delta of 480.3%. The consistency of the delta percentages, all hovering around 480%, indicates that the Xeon Gold 6348 is not just faster in raw throughput but also maintains its advantage in lightly threaded tasks. The Core i7-6700K's higher clock speed does not translate into a single-core win, which suggests the Xeon Gold 6348's Ice Lake architecture has superior instructions-per-clock efficiency.

The database also shows the Core i7-6700K has additional benchmark entries beyond Cinebench, including Geekbench and Passmark tests. In Geekbench multi-core, the Core i7-6700K scores 5,011, and in single-core it scores 1,442. Passmark results for the Core i7-6700K include data compression at 125,659, data encryption at 3,067, extended instructions at 8,248, prime number finding at 30, floating point math at 17,375, integer math at 28,144, multithread at 8,927, physics at 637, random string sorting at 15,788, and single-thread at 2,500. These numbers provide context for the Core i7-6700K's performance but do not affect the head-to-head comparison, which uses only the Cinebench tests.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Xeon Gold 6348 has 28 cores and 56 threads, while the Intel Core i7-6700K has 4 cores and 8 threads.

Q: Does the Xeon Gold 6348 support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the Xeon Gold 6348 supports ECC memory. The Core i7-6700K does not support ECC memory.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two CPUs?

A: The Xeon Gold 6348 delivers 204.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth over an eight-channel DDR4 bus. The Core i7-6700K delivers 34.1 GB/s over a dual-channel bus that supports DDR3 or DDR4 depending on the motherboard.

Q: Which processor has a higher boost clock?

A: The Core i7-6700K has a higher boost clock at 4.20 GHz, compared to 3.50 GHz for the Xeon Gold 6348. Despite this, the Xeon Gold 6348 wins all single-core benchmarks in the head-to-head data.

Q: Is the Core i7-6700K still in production?

A: No, the Core i7-6700K is listed as end-of-life. The Xeon Gold 6348 is listed as active.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the Core i7-6700K?

A: The launch MSRP is $339.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Xeon Gold 6348 wins in every benchmark category. There is no benchmark in the head-to-head table where the Core i7-6700K emerges victorious. The Xeon Gold 6348 wins all six Cinebench tests, covering both single-core and multi-core workloads. This means for any compute-intensive task that Cinebench measures, the Xeon Gold 6348 is the superior choice. The consistent 480% delta across all tests suggests that the Xeon Gold 6348 is suitable for rendering, 3D modeling, scientific computing, and any workload that relies on sustained CPU throughput.

The Core i7-6700K, however, has attributes that the Xeon Gold 6348 lacks. It includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), which the Xeon Gold 6348 does not have. It has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the Xeon Gold 6348 is locked. The Core i7-6700K also has a lower TDP of 91 watts compared to 235 watts for the Xeon Gold 6348, and it uses the smaller Socket 1151 platform, which means it can fit into standard desktop motherboards. The Xeon Gold 6348 requires the larger Socket 4189 platform, which is typically found in server and workstation motherboards.

For users who prioritize raw multi-threaded performance, the Xeon Gold 6348 is the clear winner. The data shows it delivering 44,066 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which is more than five times the Core i7-6700K's 7,594 points. For users who need a desktop processor with integrated graphics, an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, and lower power consumption, the Core i7-6700K offers those specific features, but it cannot match the Xeon Gold 6348's compute performance.

The nearest rival data places both CPUs in similar percentile positions, but the comparison within this head-to-head is one-sided. The Xeon Gold 6348's average benchmark score of 12,746 is only 4.2% higher than the Core i7-6700K's 12,237, but that average includes different benchmark suites. The head-to-head Cinebench results are the relevant comparison, and they show an overwhelming Xeon Gold 6348 advantage.

Specification Differences

The specification sheet shows several differences between the two processors. The Xeon Gold 6348 has 28 cores and 56 threads, while the Core i7-6700K has 4 cores and 8 threads. The base clock on the Xeon Gold 6348 is 2.60 GHz, while the Core i7-6700K runs at 4.00 GHz. The boost clock on the Xeon Gold 6348 is 3.50 GHz, while the Core i7-6700K boosts to 4.20 GHz. The TDP differs significantly: 235 watts for the Xeon Gold 6348 versus 91 watts for the Core i7-6700K.

The socket and platform are incompatible: the Xeon Gold 6348 uses Intel Socket 4189, while the Core i7-6700K uses Intel Socket 1151. The architecture is Ice Lake-SP for the Xeon Gold 6348 and Skylake for the Core i7-6700K. The process node is 10 nm for the Xeon Gold 6348 and 14 nm for the Core i7-6700K. The die size for the Core i7-6700K is 122 mm², while the Xeon Gold 6348 does not have a recorded die size.

Cache allocations differ at the L2 and L3 levels. The Xeon Gold 6348 has 1 MB of L2 cache per core and 42 MB of shared L3 cache. The Core i7-6700K has 256 KB of L2 cache per core and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. Memory support, bus width, bandwidth, ECC capability, PCIe generation and lane counts, integrated graphics, market segment, production status, and release dates all differ as described in the architecture section. The multiplier unlock status differs: the Core i7-6700K is unlocked, while the Xeon Gold 6348 is locked. The part numbers are different, with the Xeon Gold 6348 listed as SRKHPCD8068904572204 and the Core i7-6700K listed as SR2L0SR2BR.