Intel Core i5-6600 vs Intel Core i5-7500

The Intel Core i5-6600 (Skylake S, Q3 2015) and the Intel Core i5-7500 (Kaby Lake S, Q1 2017) are Intel desktop processors that targeted the mainstream market.

Both 14nm CPUs offer four cores, four threads, 6 MB of Level 3 Cache, and support PCIe 3.0. The Intel Core i5-6600 has a maximum memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s, while the Intel Core i5-7500 has 38 GB/s. The single-core and multi-core performance of the Intel Core i5-6600 and Intel Core i5-7500 is very similar in benchmarks.

Slightly higher clock speeds of the Intel Core i5-7500 result in only marginal performance differences in practice. For gaming, both processors offer comparable performance. The Intel Core i5-7500 can achieve minimal advantages due to slightly higher clock speeds. The Intel Core i5-6600 uses Intel HD Graphics 530, while the Intel Core i5-7500 uses the slightly improved Intel HD Graphics 630.

A dedicated graphics card is required for demanding gaming. Both processors have a TDP of 65 watts, which implies moderate power consumption and compatibility with standard cooling solutions. As older models, the Intel Core i5-6600 and Intel Core i5-7500 are hardly available new.

On the used market, they are cost-effective for building or upgrading older systems. The Intel Core i5-6600 is solid for everyday tasks. The Intel Core i5-7500 offers slightly higher clock speeds and slightly improved integrated graphics thanks to Kaby Lake. If the price difference is small, the Intel Core i5-7500 is the better choice.

For basic applications, the user experience is very similar for both.