Intel Core i5-9500 vs Intel Core i7-6700

The Intel Core i7-6700, based on the Skylake S architecture, was introduced in the third quarter of 2015 and targeted users in the upper mainstream segment.

The Intel Core i5-9500, released in the second quarter of 2019 as part of the Coffee Lake S Refresh architecture, aimed at mainstream desktop users.

Both processors are manufactured using the 14 nm fabrication process. The Intel Core i7-6700 features 4 cores and 8 threads (Hyper-Threading), while the Intel Core i5-9500 is equipped with 6 physical cores and 6 threads. The Intel Core i7-6700 offers 8 MB of Level 3 Cache and a maximum memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s.

In contrast, the Intel Core i5-9500 comes with 9 MB of Level 3 Cache and a higher memory bandwidth of 43 GB/s. Both support PCIe 3.0 and have an integrated graphics unit (Intel HD Graphics 530 and Intel UHD Graphics 630, respectively). In single-core performance, the Intel Core i5-9500 noticeably surpasses the older Intel Core i7-6700 due to its newer architecture and higher clock speeds.

For multi-core applications, the Intel Core i5-9500 also shows significantly higher performance with its additional physical cores. For gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i5-9500 is the superior choice, as games greatly benefit from high single-core performance. Both processors have a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 65 Watts, which indicates comparable energy efficiency.

In the used market, the Intel Core i5-9500 offers a more attractive price-performance ratio due to its better performance. In summary, the Intel Core i5-9500 delivers superior overall performance for modern applications and games. The Intel Core i7-6700 is only recommended if it is already owned or acquired at a very low price for basic tasks.