Intel Core i5-6600 vs Intel Core i5-6500

The Intel Core i5-6600 and the Intel Core i5-6500 are both desktop processors based on Intel's Skylake-S architecture, manufactured using a 14nm process.

They target the mainstream market for everyday tasks and light gaming. Both CPUs feature 4 cores and 4 threads, 6 MB of Level 3 Cache, utilize PCIe 3.0, and offer a maximum memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s. The integrated graphics unit for both is the Intel HD Graphics 530. Due to its higher clock speeds, the Intel Core i5-6600 offers marginally better single-core performance and noticeably higher multi-core performance than the Intel Core i5-6500.

This is particularly evident in applications such as video editing or more complex multitasking scenarios. In gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i5-6600 has a slight advantage due to higher frame rates, as games often benefit from higher clock speeds. The Thermal Design Power (TDP) for both models is 65W, which means similar power consumption and cooling requirements.

As these are older processors, they are only available on the used market. With a small price difference, the Intel Core i5-6600 offers slightly better value for money. For more demanding tasks, the Intel Core i5-6600 is the better choice, while the Intel Core i5-6500 is perfectly sufficient for general office work and web browsing.