Intel Core i7-6700TE vs Intel Core i7-8560U Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U boosts to 4.60 GHz, while the Intel Core i7-6700TE reaches 3.40 GHz. That is a substantial 1.20 GHz advantage for the mobile part in single-thread burst workloads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in Cinebench R23 multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U scores 5641 versus 5273 for the Intel Core i7-6700TE. The delta is 6.5% in favor of the 8560U across the R23 multi-core test.

Q: Are both processors based on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built on Intel's 14 nm process node. However, they use different architectures: Skylake for the 6700TE and Whiskey Lake for the 8560U.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Intel Core i7-8560U supports 38.4 GB/s, whereas the Intel Core i7-6700TE delivers 34.1 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but the 8560U offers the higher theoretical bandwidth.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same core and thread configuration?

A: Yes, each has 4 cores and 8 threads. Their L1 cache is 64 KB per core, L2 is 256 KB per core, and L3 is 8 MB shared on both parts.

Q: Which processor has the higher overall benchmark average?

A: The Intel Core i7-6700TE has an average benchmark score of 1666, compared to 1631 for the Intel Core i7-8560U. The desktop part leads by roughly 2% in aggregate scoring.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i7-6700TE belongs to the Skylake generation, released in late August 2015, and is classified as a desktop processor. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and carries the part number SR2LP. Its integrated graphics are the HD Graphics 530. The Intel Core i7-8560U, by contrast, is a Whiskey Lake-U mobile part released in late September 2018, using the Intel BGA 1528 socket with part number SRGML. Its integrated graphics are the UHD Graphics 620.

Both processors are fabricated on Intel's 14 nm node and share identical cache hierarchies: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 8 MB of shared L3. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier. Both expose PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU.

The most notable architectural divergence is the base clock. The 6700TE runs at 2.40 GHz, while the 8560U has a recorded base clock of 1800.00 MHz. That lower base frequency is typical for a 15 W mobile part, but the 8560U compensates with a much higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz versus 3.40 GHz for the desktop chip. The thermal design power tells the rest of the story: 35 W for the 6700TE and 15 W for the 8560U, reflecting the mobile part's focus on efficiency and burst performance.

Memory support also differs. The 6700TE supports DDR4 only, while the 8560U supports both DDR3 and DDR4. The 8560U also has a higher memory bandwidth figure of 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s for the 6700TE, despite both using dual-channel memory buses.

The production statuses differ as well: the 6700TE is listed as Active, while the 8560U is End-of-life. Neither part has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded head-to-head data covers six Cinebench tests, and the Intel Core i7-8560U wins all six. The margins are consistent, ranging from 6.5% to 7.5%, which suggests a uniform performance advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the 8560U scores 568 against 531 for the 6700TE, a 6.5% lead. The single-core R15 result is closer in percentage terms but still favors the mobile chip: 80 versus 74, a 7.5% margin. That is the largest relative gap in the entire comparison, driven by the 8560U's much higher boost clock.

Moving to Cinebench R20, the multi-core test shows 2369 for the 8560U and 2214 for the 6700TE, again a 6.5% difference. The single-core R20 result is 334 versus 312, a 6.6% margin. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23, where the 8560U scores 5641 multi-core and 796 single-core, against 5273 and 744 for the 6700TE. Both R23 deltas are 6.5%.

The 8560U's advantage is consistent despite its lower base clock and drastically lower TDP (15 W versus 35 W). The higher boost clock of 4.60 GHz allows the mobile chip to pull ahead in both single-threaded and multi-threaded render workloads. The 6700TE, with its higher base clock of 2.40 GHz, cannot match the sustained burst performance of the Whiskey Lake part in these tests.

It is importantly the 6700TE has a separate Geekbench result in the database, scoring 3154 multi-core and 1028 single-core, while the 8560U has no recorded Geekbench score. The head-to-head table, however, only includes Cinebench tests, so those are the only directly comparable measurements.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key fields. The base clock is 2.40 GHz for the 6700TE and 1800.00 MHz for the 8560U. The boost clock is 3.40 GHz versus 4.60 GHz. TDP is 35 W versus 15 W. The socket is Intel Socket 1151 for the 6700TE and Intel BGA 1528 for the 8560U.

Architecture and codename differ: Skylake versus Whiskey Lake (Whiskey Lake-U). The generation labels are Core i7 (Skylake) and Core i7 (Whiskey Lake). The market segment is Desktop for the 6700TE and Mobile for the 8560U. Production status is Active versus End-of-life.

Memory support differs: DDR4 only for the 6700TE, DDR3 and DDR4 for the 8560U. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. Integrated graphics are HD Graphics 530 versus UHD Graphics 620. The part numbers are SR2LP and SRGML.

Release dates differ by roughly three years: the 6700TE is from August 31, 2015, while the 8560U is from September 30, 2018. Both parts lack an unlocked multiplier, both lack ECC support, and both use the same PCIe configuration (Gen 3, 16 lanes from CPU).

The core count, thread count, L1 cache, L2 cache, L3 cache, process node, foundry, manufacturer, and memory bus width are identical between the two processors.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous in rendering performance: the Intel Core i7-8560U is faster in every recorded Cinebench test. Its wins range from 6.5% to 7.5% across R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core configurations. The single-core R15 result shows the largest gap at 7.5%, which aligns with the 8560U's 4.60 GHz boost clock versus the 6700TE's 3.40 GHz.

The 6700TE does hold a slight edge in average benchmark score, 1666 versus 1631, but that figure includes a Geekbench result that the 8560U does not have in the database. In the directly comparable Cinebench tests, the 8560U leads every time.

From a platform perspective, the 6700TE is the desktop part with a 35 W TDP, an active production status, and support for DDR4 only. The 8560U is the mobile part with a 15 W TDP, an end-of-life status, and support for both DDR3 and DDR4. The 8560U also offers higher memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s).

For users building or upgrading a desktop system on Socket 1151, the 6700TE remains a viable active part with a higher base clock and lower boost clock, but it trails the 8560U in all measured render workloads. For those prioritizing raw Cinebench throughput and efficiency, the 8560U is the stronger choice based on the recorded data. Its consistent 6.5% to 7.5% lead comes with less than half the TDP, making it the more efficient performer in this comparison.

The 6700TE's only aggregate advantage comes from the Geekbench scores, which are not part of the head-to-head table. In the six tests where both chips were measured under identical conditions, the 8560U wins all six. The verdict, strictly from the data, is that the Intel Core i7-8560U is the faster processor for Cinebench workloads, while the 6700TE retains the advantage of being an active desktop-platform part with a higher base clock.