Intel Core i7-6900K vs Intel Core i7-8086K Comparison

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-6900K is the stronger all-around performer in this comparison, winning 7 of the 8 recorded head-to-head benchmarks. Its advantage is most pronounced in Geekbench multicore, where it leads by 10.8%, scoring 8774 versus 7920. The i7-8086K claims only a single victory, but that win is significant: Geekbench singlecore, where it scores 1697 against 1392, a 18% lead. For workloads that scale across many threads, the 6900K is the clear choice. For lightly threaded tasks, the 8086K offers a measurable advantage in that specific test, though the Cinebench single-core results tell a different story, with the 6900K ahead by 3.5% to 3.9% across R15, R20, and R23.

The 6900K also holds a higher average benchmark score of 3970 compared to 3800 for the 8086K, and it sits at the 57th percentile versus the 8086K's 56th. The 8086K's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-9700KF (delta 0.3%) and AMD Ryzen 9 4900H (delta -0.5%), while the 6900K's closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5875U with a 0% delta. The data positions the 6900K as the more capable processor for productivity and content creation, while the 8086K's single-core Geekbench result makes it the better option for applications that depend on that metric.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel architectures and sockets. The i7-6900K is built on Broadwell-E, uses Intel Socket 2011-3, and features 8 cores with 16 threads. The i7-8086K is a Coffee Lake part on Intel Socket 1151, with 6 cores and 12 threads. Both use the same 14 nm process node from Intel, but the 6900K carries 3,400 million transistors on a 246 mm² die, while the 8086K has no recorded transistor or die size data in the database.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The 6900K has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 20 MB of shared L3 cache. The 8086K matches the per-core L1 and L2 figures but only offers 12 MB of shared L3. Memory support also diverges: the 6900K uses quad-channel DDR4 with a memory bandwidth of 76.8 GB/s, while the 8086K uses dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s. The 6900K provides PCIe Gen 3 with 40 lanes (CPU only), whereas the 8086K provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The 8086K includes integrated UHD Graphics 630; the 6900K has no integrated graphics recorded. The 6900K has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, while the 8086K runs at 4.00 GHz base and 5.00 GHz boost. TDP is 140 W for the 6900K and 95 W for the 8086K. Both are unlocked for overclocking and support DDR4, but the 6900K was released on 2016-05-30, while the 8086K launched on 2018-06-04.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results show a consistent pattern: the 6900K leads in every multicore test and in all three Cinebench single-core runs, while the 8086K wins only in Geekbench single-core. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 6900K scores 1254 against 1206, a 4% lead. The single-core R15 result is 176 versus 170, a 3.5% edge. In Cinebench R20, the multicore scores are 5226 versus 5029, a 3.9% lead, and single-core is 737 versus 709, also 3.9%. Cinebench R23 repeats the pattern: multicore 12444 versus 11975, a 3.9% lead, and single-core 1756 versus 1690, again 3.9%. The largest multicore gap appears in Geekbench, where the 6900K reaches 8774 against 7920, a 10.8% margin.

The 8086K's only win is Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1697 versus 1392, a 18% difference in its favor. This is the single biggest delta in either direction, and it underscores the 8086K's high clock speed advantage, with a 5.00 GHz boost versus the 6900K's 3.70 GHz. However, the Cinebench single-core tests contradict that trend, showing the 6900K ahead by roughly 4% across all three versions. The data suggests that the two processors respond differently to these benchmark workloads, and the 8086K's Geekbench single-core result should not be taken as a universal single-threaded victory.

Across the full benchmark suite, the 6900K's wins include all three Cinebench multicore tests, all three Cinebench single-core tests, and Geekbench multicore. The 8086K wins only Geekbench single-core. The average benchmark score reinforces the 6900K's overall position: 3970 versus 3800, a gap that places the 6900K at the 57th percentile against all CPUs, one point ahead of the 8086K's 56th.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Geekbench multicore?

A: The Intel Core i7-6900K scores 8774 versus 7920 for the i7-8086K, a 10.8% lead.

Q: Is the i7-8086K better in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the i7-8086K wins Geekbench single-core with a score of 1697 versus 1392, a 18% advantage.

Q: How do the two compare in Cinebench R23?

A: The i7-6900K leads in both multicore and single-core: 12444 versus 11975 in multicore (3.9% lead) and 1756 versus 1690 in single-core (3.9% lead).

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: The i7-6900K has 8 cores and 16 threads. The i7-8086K has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The i7-6900K has 20 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i7-8086K has 12 MB.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The i7-6900K supports quad-channel DDR4 with 76.8 GB/s bandwidth. The i7-8086K supports dual-channel DDR4 with 42.7 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The i7-6900K is the pick for heavily threaded workloads. Its 8 cores and 16 threads, combined with 20 MB of L3 cache and quad-channel memory, deliver consistent wins across every Cinebench multicore test. The 3.9% to 4% margins in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multicore are modest but consistent, and the 10.8% Geekbench multicore advantage is the largest multicore gap in the comparison. The 6900K also wins in every Cinebench single-core test, though by smaller margins of 3.5% to 3.9%, so it is not purely a multicore specialist. The 6900K's launch MSRP was $1089.

The i7-8086K wins only in Geekbench single-core, where its 18% lead is substantial. This result likely stems from its 5.00 GHz boost clock versus the 6900K's 3.70 GHz, though the Cinebench single-core results do not follow that pattern. The 8086K also has a much lower TDP of 95 W versus 140 W, and it includes integrated UHD Graphics 630, which the 6900K lacks. For users running applications that mirror Geekbench single-core behavior, the 8086K is the better fit. Its launch MSRP was $425.

Specification Differences

| Field | Intel Core i7-6900K | Intel Core i7-8086K |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 6 |

| Threads | 16 | 12 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.70 GHz | 5.00 GHz |

| TDP | 140 W | 95 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 2011-3 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Coffee Lake |

| Codename | Broadwell-E | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 3,400 million | Not recorded |

| Die Size | 246 mm² | Not recorded |

| L3 Cache | 20 MB (shared) | 12 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bus | Quad-channel | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | 76.8 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 40 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | None | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Release Date | 2016-05-30 | 2018-06-04 |

| Launch MSRP | $1089 | $425 |

| Part Number | SR2PB | SR3QQBX80684I78086K |

Both processors share the same 14 nm process, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, DDR4 memory support, and lack ECC memory support. Both are unlocked for overclocking and are end-of-life in production status. The 6900K's transistor count of 3,400 million and die size of 246 mm² are recorded, while the 8086K has no such data in the database. The 6900K's higher TDP and larger platform reflect its HEDT positioning, while the 8086K's lower TDP and integrated graphics target a mainstream desktop socket.