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Intel Core i7 6600U Review | 78 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£340
  • Avg. price in US: ~$390
  • PassMark benchmark result: 3402
  • N. of physical cores: 2
  • CPU boost clock speed: 3.4 GHz

Intel Core i7 6600U review. Compare 78 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among processors and if it is worth buying.

3.5

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the processor's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best processors on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.5

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
3.5

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the processor's technical performance, covering key areas such as processing performance, core configuration, efficiency, platform support, integrated features, and thermal behavior.

When it matters: When you want to compare processors based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

60.0%

2.4

Performance

18.0%

4.7

Cache & Architecture

10.0%

3.7

Memory & PCIe

7.0%

7.6

Power & Thermal

4.0%

7.3

Platform

1.0%

6.5

Integrated Graphics

Poor
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the processor.

When it matters: When you want to know how a processor performs in real workloads and how reliable it is for gaming, productivity, and efficiency according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 2.3
    Gaming

    Score components:

    30.0%

    2.4

    PassMark single-core benchmark score

    25.0%

    2.7

    Geekbench 6 single-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    2.8

    CPU boost clock speed

    17.0%

    1.6

    L3 cache

    8.0%

    1.0

    N. of physical cores

  • 1.3
    Video editing

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.2

    Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    1.0

    N. of physical cores

    20.0%

    1.6

    CPU threads

    15.0%

    1.6

    L3 cache

  • No image
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Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £340

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Intel Core i7-6600U is a 6th Gen 'Skylake' dual-core mobile processor designed for ultrabooks, featuring 4 threads, a 2.60 GHz base clock, and a 3.40 GHz Max Turbo Frequency. Built on a 14nm process with a 15W TDP, it includes 4MB of Smart Cache and integrated Intel HD Graphics 520, supporting up to 32GB of DDR4-2133 or LPDDR3-1866 memory. Its main pros include high energy efficiency for long battery life, strong single-core performance for office tasks, and business-ready features like Intel vPro and Trusted Execution Technology. However, its primary cons are the limited dual-core architecture, which struggles with modern multi-threaded applications, and a lack of official support for Windows 11.

Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i7 6600U

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the processor's technical performance, covering key areas such as processing performance, core configuration, efficiency, platform support, integrated features, and thermal behavior.

When it matters: When you want to compare processors based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

60.0%

?

Performance

18.0%

?

Cache & Architecture

10.0%

?

Memory & PCIe

7.0%

?

Power & Thermal

4.0%

?

Platform

1.0%

?

Integrated Graphics

3.5
Intel Core i7 6600U has a technical score of 3.52 points, which is lower than that of 94.5% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the processor.

When it matters: When you want to know how a processor performs in real workloads and how reliable it is for gaming, productivity, and efficiency according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the processor.
When it matters: When you prefer to choose a processor reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
1.0
Intel Core i7 6600U has a popularity of 1 points, which is higher than 0% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the processor's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a processor with a good balance between performance, efficiency, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.5

Overall score

40.0%

8.7

Price

5.1
Intel Core i7 6600U has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.1 points, which is lower than 95.1% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Processor type
What it is: The kind of system the processor is built for, such as desktop PCs, laptops, workstations, or servers.
When it matters: When you want a processor meant for the kind of machine you are actually building or buying, rather than a chip aimed at a different class of system.

Importance: HIGH

mobile
Intel Core i7 6600U belongs to the mobile processor class, which is more advanced than that of 7.3% of processors and equal to that of 48.6% of processors.
CPU socket
What it is: The physical socket the processor fits into on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need to make sure the CPU can actually be installed on a specific motherboard.

Importance: HIGH

FCBGA1356
Intel Core i7 6600U uses the FCBGA1356 CPU socket, which is older than that of 88.1% of processors and equal to that of 3% of processors.
Chipset
What it is: The motherboard chipset families officially meant to work with the processor.
When it matters: When you are checking whether a CPU will work with the motherboard features and platform you plan to use.

Importance: HIGH

Intel 100 Series, Intel 200 Series
Intel Core i7 6600U supports Intel 100 Series, Intel 200 Series chipsets, which is broader compatibility than 50% of processors and equal to that of 2.1% of processors.
CPU architecture
What it is: The processor family or design generation behind the chip, such as Zen 4 or Raptor Lake.
When it matters: When you are comparing CPUs across generations and want a clearer sense of their design age, feature level, and expected performance class.

Importance: HIGH

x86-64
Intel Core i7 6600U uses the x86-64 architecture, which is more advanced than that of 1.7% of processors and equal to that of 98.3% of processors.
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N. of physical cores
What it is: The number of physical CPU cores on the processor.
When it matters: When you run workloads that benefit from more real cores.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 8+

2
Intel Core i7 6600U has 2 CPU cores, which is fewer than 79.3% of processors and equal to 20.6% of processors.
CPU threads
What it is: The total number of processing threads the CPU can handle at once.
When it matters: When you run heavily threaded workloads or multitask a lot.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 16+

4
Intel Core i7 6600U offers 4 CPU threads, which is fewer than 67.3% of processors and equal to 26.6% of processors.
Threads per core
What it is: The number of threads each physical core can handle at once.
When it matters: When you want to understand how much thread-level parallelism each core can provide in multitasking or heavily threaded work.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 2

2
Intel Core i7 6600U offers 2 threads per core, which is more than 30.4% of processors and equal to 69.6% of processors.
CPU boost clock speed
What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.
When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >4.7 GHz

3.4 GHz
Intel Core i7 6600U reaches a boost clock of 3.4 GHz which is lower than that of 83.7% of processors and equal to that of 2.9% of processors.
CPU base clock speed
What it is: The processor's normal all-core starting frequency before boost behavior raises clocks temporarily.
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance in longer workloads rather than short burst speed alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

2 x 2.6 GHz
Intel Core i7 6600U has a base clock of 2x2.6 GHz which is equal to that of 100% of processors.
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Semiconductor size
What it is: The manufacturing process node used to produce the processor, usually expressed in nanometers.
When it matters: When efficiency, heat, and the relative modernity of the chip-making process matter to your comparison.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <10 nm

14 nm
Intel Core i7 6600U uses a 14 nm process node, which is older than that of 50.8% of processors and equal to that of 33.7% of processors.
Foundry
What it is: The semiconductor manufacturer that physically fabricates the processor chip.
When it matters: When process source, manufacturing generation, or foundry differences matter to your comparison more than day-to-day performance alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel 14 nm
Intel Core i7 6600U is built on the Intel 14 nm foundry process, which is less advanced than that of 55.2% of processors and equal to that of 29.3% of processors.
L3 cache
What it is: The total amount of L3 cache available on the processor.
When it matters: When you want better performance in cache-sensitive workloads and games.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=16 MB

4 MB
Intel Core i7 6600U has an L3 cache of 4 MB which is smaller than that of 70.2% of processors and equal to that of 14.6% of processors.
L2 cache
What it is: The total amount of L2 cache available across the processor.
When it matters: When you want to compare CPU design efficiency and how much fast intermediate cache the cores have available.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6 MB

0.5 MB
Intel Core i7 6600U has an L2 cache of 0.5 MB which is smaller than that of 84.8% of processors and equal to that of 15.2% of processors.
L1 cache
What it is: The total amount of L1 cache built into the processor, which sits closest to the cores.
When it matters: When you are comparing low-level CPU design details rather than the broader performance picture buyers usually notice first.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=512 KB

128 KB
Intel Core i7 6600U has an L1 cache of 128 KB which is smaller than that of 83.1% of processors and equal to that of 14.9% of processors.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the processor is designed to support, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the CPU to match the kind of memory platform you want to buy or reuse.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: DDR5

DDR3L/DDR4/LPDDR3
Intel Core i7 6600U supports DDR DDR3L/DDR4/LPDDR3, which is older than that of 74.3% of processors and equal to that of 3.3% of processors.
Maximum memory speed
What it is: The highest official memory speed supported by the processor.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4800 MHz

2,133 MHz
Intel Core i7 6600U supports memory speeds up to 2133 MHz, which is lower than that of 75.6% of processors and equal to 8.8% of processors.
Max memory speed (JEDEC)
What it is: The highest official RAM speed the processor supports under standard JEDEC settings, before any memory overclocking profiles are applied.
When it matters: When officially supported stock RAM speed matters more than XMP, EXPO, or manual memory tuning.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5600 MHz

DDR4-2133 MHz
Intel Core i7 6600U supports JEDEC memory speeds up to DDR4-2133 MHz, which is lower than that of 75.9% of processors and equal to 5.3% of processors.
Max memory speed (XMP / EXPO)
What it is: The highest memory speed supported through XMP or EXPO profiles.
When it matters: When you want faster RAM through memory profiles.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5200 MHz

N/A
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of memory officially supported by the processor.
When it matters: When you plan a system with very large RAM capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

32 GB
Intel Core i7 6600U supports up to 32 GB of memory, which is less than 71.9% of processors and equal to 19.5% of processors.
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Integrated graphics
What it is: Includes built-in graphics, so the system can output video without a separate graphics card.
When it matters: When you want the PC to work without a dedicated GPU, or you are building an office, media, compact, or troubleshooting-friendly system.

Importance: HIGH

yes
Intel Core i7 6600U includes integrated graphics. 87.6% of processors include integrated graphics.
Integrated GPU model
What it is: The model name of the integrated graphics processor, if present.
When it matters: When you plan to use the CPU's built-in graphics.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel HD Graphics 520
Intel Core i7 6600U uses the Intel HD Graphics 520 integrated GPU, which is less advanced than that in 80.8% of processors and equal to that in 0.3% of processors.
Integrated GPU execution units
What it is: The number of execution units available in the integrated graphics part of the processor.
When it matters: When you plan to rely on built-in graphics and want a better sense of its light gaming, display, or media capability.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=24

24
Intel Core i7 6600U has 24 GPU execution units, which is more than 49.2% of processors and equal to 21.6% of processors.
Integrated GPU base frequency
What it is: The base operating frequency of the integrated GPU.
When it matters: When integrated graphics performance matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=350 MHz

300 MHz
Intel Core i7 6600U has an integrated GPU clock of 300 MHz which is lower than that of 57% of processors and equal to that of 38.7% of processors.
Integrated media encoders/decoders
What it is: The hardware media formats the processor can encode or decode directly.
When it matters: When you stream, edit video, or rely on hardware media acceleration.

Importance: LOW

H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode), JPEG (HW decode)
Intel Core i7 6600U supports H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode), JPEG (HW decode) media codecs, which is broader support than 71% of processors and equal to 0.6% of processors.
Show more
TDP (Thermal design power)
What it is: The rated thermal design power, which gives a general idea of cooling and power needs.
When it matters: When you choose a cooler or build in a tighter case.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <30 W

15 W
Intel Core i7 6600U has a TDP of 15 W which is lower than that of 77.7% of processors and equal to that of 16.1% of processors.
Base power (PL1)
What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.
When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <30 W

15 W
Intel Core i7 6600U has a base power of 15 W which is lower than that of 77.2% of processors and equal to that of 16.2% of processors.
Boost power (PL2)
What it is: The short-term boost power limit the processor may draw under heavier turbo loads.
When it matters: When you size cooling and power delivery for peak turbo behavior.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <50 W

25 W
Intel Core i7 6600U has a boost power of 25 W which is lower than that of 83.1% of processors and equal to that of 9.2% of processors.
Tau (power duration limit)
What it is: The time limit the CPU can stay at higher boost power before dropping toward sustained power.
When it matters: When you want to understand turbo behavior under longer loads.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=28 s

28 seconds
Intel Core i7 6600U has a turbo duration of 28 seconds which is longer than that of 3.8% of processors and equal to that of 85% of processors.
Configurable TDP
What it is: Allows the processor to run in alternate power modes instead of being fixed to one default TDP target.
When it matters: When you want more control over heat, noise, and power draw in compact systems, quieter builds, or thermally limited machines.

Importance: LOW

yes
Intel Core i7 6600U supports configurable TDP. 52.9% of processors support configurable TDP.
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Intel Core i7 6600U vs the average processor

  • 4.39x faster classroom rendering
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Blender Classroom render time than the average processor (3,476 vs 791.745). The average processor needs 791.745 for the Blender Classroom test.
    What it is: A Blender render result based on the Classroom scene, used to show how quickly the processor can complete a demanding rendering workload.
    When it matters: When rendering speed matters for 3D work, content creation, or other workloads that behave like long multi-core renders.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >1500

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Blender Classroom render time than the average processor (3,476 vs 791.745). The average processor needs 791.745 for the Blender Classroom test.3,475.97 vs 791.745
  • 3.28x faster Blender rendering
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (1,088.7 vs 331.88). The average processor needs 331.88 for the Blender BMW27 test.
    What it is: A Blender render result based on the BMW27 scene, used to show how quickly the processor can finish a heavy 3D rendering task.
    When it matters: When rendering speed matters for 3D work, content creation, or other workloads that behave like long multi-core renders.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >290

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (1,088.7 vs 331.88). The average processor needs 331.88 for the Blender BMW27 test.1,088.69 vs 331.88
  • 66.7% lower base power
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower base power draw than the average processor (15 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
    What it is: The sustained power target used for longer CPU loads.
    When it matters: When you choose cooling and power delivery for sustained workloads.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <30 W

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower base power draw than the average processor (15 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.15 W vs 45 W
  • 44.4% smaller die size
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower die size than the average processor (99 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².
    What it is: The physical area of the processor die, usually measured in square millimeters.
    When it matters: When you are comparing chip scale, packaging density, or broader design differences rather than direct user-visible performance.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: <150 mm²

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower die size than the average processor (99 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².99 mm² vs 178 mm²
  • 60.9% lower boost power
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower boost power draw than the average processor (25 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
    What it is: The short-term boost power limit the processor may draw under heavier turbo loads.
    When it matters: When you size cooling and power delivery for peak turbo behavior.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <50 W

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower boost power draw than the average processor (25 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.25 W vs 64 W
  • 66.7% lower TDP
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower TDP than the average processor (15 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.
    What it is: The rated thermal design power, which gives a general idea of cooling and power needs.
    When it matters: When you choose a cooler or build in a tighter case.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: <30 W

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower TDP than the average processor (15 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.15 W vs 45 W
  • 16.7% more L3 per core
    Intel Core i7 6600U has more L3 cache per core than the average processor (2 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
    What it is: The amount of L3 cache effectively available per CPU core.
    When it matters: When you are comparing how much shared cache each core can draw on in deeper technical analysis.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2 MB/core

    Intel Core i7 6600U has more L3 cache per core than the average processor (2 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.2 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core
  • 4.39x faster classroom rendering
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Blender Classroom render time than the average processor (3,476 vs 791.745). The average processor needs 791.745 for the Blender Classroom test.
  • 3.28x faster Blender rendering
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (1,088.7 vs 331.88). The average processor needs 331.88 for the Blender BMW27 test.
  • 44.4% smaller die size
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower die size than the average processor (99 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².
  • 16.7% more L3 per core
    Intel Core i7 6600U has more L3 cache per core than the average processor (2 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
  • 66.7% lower base power
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower base power draw than the average processor (15 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a base power draw of 45 W.
  • 60.9% lower boost power
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower boost power draw than the average processor (25 W vs 64 W). The average processor has a boost power draw of 64 W.
  • 66.7% lower TDP
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower TDP than the average processor (15 W vs 45 W). The average processor has a TDP of 45 W.

Total
Performance
Cache & Architecture
Power & Thermal
  • 5 year/s older release date
    Intel Core i7 6600U has an older release date than the average processor (2,015 vs 2,020).
    September 2015
  • Older CPU socket
    Intel Core i7 6600U uses an older CPU socket than the average processor (FCBGA1,356 vs FP2).
  • No crypto acceleration
    Intel Core i7 6600U does not include crypto acceleration, the average processor does.
  • 73.4% weaker multi-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower multi-core performance than the average processor (741 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
  • 4 fewer CPU cores
    Intel Core i7 6600U has fewer CPU cores than the average processor (2 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
  • 20.9% lower boost clock
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.4 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
  • 28.8% weaker single-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,767 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.
  • 79.5% lower multi-core score
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (983 vs 4,793). The average processor scores 4,793 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
  • 33.2% lower single-core score
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (983 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
  • 67.7% lower PassMark score
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (3,402 vs 10,532.5). The average processor scores 10,532.5 in PassMark benchmark.
  • 17.4% lower Cinebench R20 single-core score
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Cinebench R20 single-core score than the average processor (400 vs 484). The average processor scores 484 in Cinebench R20 single-core.
  • 4 fewer CPU threads
    Intel Core i7 6600U has fewer CPU threads than the average processor (4 vs 8). The average processor has 8 CPU threads.
  • 50% lower bus transfer rate
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower bus transfer rate than the average processor (4 GT/s vs 8 GT/s). The average processor offers bus transfer rate of 8 GT/s.
  • 50% lower bus speed
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower bus speed than the average processor (4 GT/s vs 8 GT/s). The average processor runs at bus speed of 8 GT/s.
  • 80% smaller L2 cache
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (0.5 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.
  • 16.7% larger process node
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a higher process node than the average processor (14 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
  • 66.7% smaller L1 cache
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower L1 cache than the average processor (128 KB vs 384 KB). The average processor has L1 cache of 384 KB.
  • 50% less L2 per core
    Intel Core i7 6600U has less L2 cache per core than the average processor (0.3 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core). The average processor provides 0.5 MB/core of L2 cache per core.
  • 50% smaller L3 cache
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower L3 cache than the average processor (4 MB vs 8 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 8 MB.
  • Less advanced microarchitecture
    Intel Core i7 6600U uses a less advanced microarchitecture than the average processor (Skylake vs Kaby Lake).
  • 25.5% lower memory bandwidth
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower memory bandwidth than the average processor (34.1 GB/s vs 45.8 GB/s). The average processor offers memory bandwidth of 45.8 GB/s.
  • 4 fewer PCIe lanes
    Intel Core i7 6600U has fewer PCIe lanes than the average processor (12 vs 16). The average processor offers 16 PCIe lanes.
  • 27.3% lower memory speed
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower maximum memory speed than the average processor (2,133 MHz vs 2,933 MHz). The average processor supports memory speed of 2,933 MHz.
  • 50% less memory capacity
    Intel Core i7 6600U has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average processor (32 GB vs 64 GB). The average processor supports 64 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR support
    Intel Core i7 6600U supports an older DDR generation than the average processor (DDR3L/DDR4/LPDDR3 vs DDR4).
  • Limited PCIe bifurcation
    Intel Core i7 6600U supports less flexible PCIe bifurcation than the average processor (x4, x2/x2, x2/x1/x1, x1/x1/x1/x1 vs x16, x8/x8).
  • 50% less memory per DIMM
    Intel Core i7 6600U has fewer memory per DIMM than the average processor (16 GB vs 32 GB). The average processor supports 32 GB of memory per DIMM.
  • Inferior integrated GPU
    Intel Core i7 6600U uses an inferior integrated GPU to the average processor (Intel HD Graphics 520 vs Intel UHD Graphics 630).
  • Narrower media codec support
    Intel Core i7 6600U supports fewer media codecs than the average processor (H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode), JPEG (HW decode) vs H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode/encode), VP9 (HW decode/encode), AV1 (HW decode)).
  • 73.4% weaker multi-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower multi-core performance than the average processor (741 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
    What it is: A Cinebench R20 score that reflects how well the processor handles long, heavy rendering workloads across many cores.
    When it matters: When you care about sustained multi-core performance in rendering, compiling, heavy creation work, or productivity workloads that use many threads.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >4700

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower multi-core performance than the average processor (741 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.741 vs 2,783
  • 4 fewer CPU cores
    Intel Core i7 6600U has fewer CPU cores than the average processor (2 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
    What it is: The number of physical CPU cores on the processor.
    When it matters: When you run workloads that benefit from more real cores.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 8+

    Intel Core i7 6600U has fewer CPU cores than the average processor (2 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.2 vs 6
  • 20.9% lower boost clock
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.4 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
    What it is: The highest clock speed the processor can reach under boost conditions.
    When it matters: When you care about peak speed in short bursts.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >4.7 GHz

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.4 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.3.4 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
  • 28.8% weaker single-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,767 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.
    What it is: A benchmark score that reflects single-core CPU performance.
    When it matters: When you care about responsiveness in lighter or older software.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >3200

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,767 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.1,767 vs 2,483
  • 79.5% lower multi-core score
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (983 vs 4,793). The average processor scores 4,793 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
    What it is: A Geekbench 6 score that reflects multi-core CPU performance in mixed modern workloads.
    When it matters: When you want a quick picture of multi-core speed in everyday mixed workloads, multitasking, and broadly optimized software.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >8500

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (983 vs 4,793). The average processor scores 4,793 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.983 vs 4,793
  • 33.2% lower single-core score
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (983 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
    What it is: A Geekbench 6 score that reflects single-core CPU performance in mixed modern workloads.
    When it matters: When you care about snappy everyday performance in lighter apps, browsing, office work, or tasks that do not scale well across many cores.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >2000

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (983 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.983 vs 1,471
  • 67.7% lower PassMark score
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (3,402 vs 10,532.5). The average processor scores 10,532.5 in PassMark benchmark.
    What it is: A benchmark score that gives a broad idea of overall processor performance.
    When it matters: When you want a quick overall performance comparison.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >19000

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (3,402 vs 10,532.5). The average processor scores 10,532.5 in PassMark benchmark.3,402 vs 10,532.5
  • 80% smaller L2 cache
    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (0.5 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.
    What it is: The total amount of L2 cache available across the processor.
    When it matters: When you want to compare CPU design efficiency and how much fast intermediate cache the cores have available.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6 MB

    Intel Core i7 6600U has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (0.5 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.0.5 MB vs 2.5 MB
Total
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Performance
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Integrated Graphics

Graphic comparison of Intel Core i7 6600U and other processors

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about Intel Core i7 6600U?

  • Capable for general office tasks, university research, and web browsing
  • Good value for money when purchased at a lower cost in used laptops
  • Sufficient for 4K video playback and light photo/video editing tasks
  • Low power consumption (15W TDP) allows for thin and portable laptop designs
  • Reliable performance for running older or simple 2D games
  • Compatible with Windows 11 on many systems despite its age

What customers dislike about Intel Core i7 6600U?

  • Tendency to get very hot and experience thermal throttling during intensive use
  • Heavy workloads like video encoding or complex programming can drain battery life quickly
  • Limited to 2 physical cores, which struggles with modern multi-threaded applications
  • Poor performance in modern AAA games due to the weak integrated HD 520 graphics
  • Slow compilation times for large software projects compared to newer processors
  • No longer competitive with 8th Gen or newer chips that offer double the core count

Expert reviews

B
browser.geekbench.com
01/10/2015
Intel Core i7-6600U Benchmarks - Geekbench Browser

The Intel Core i7-6600U is a Skylake-generation dual-core processor designed for thin, energy-efficient laptops. It operates at 2.6 GHz with a 3.4 GHz turbo, featuring Hyper-Threading for efficient multitasking in light office workloads. The processor's primary pro is its 15W TDP, providing solid battery efficiency for portable devices. However, a significant con is its limited...Read more

C
cpu.userbenchmark.com
26/10/2015
Intel Core i7-6600U - CPU UserBenchmarks

The Intel Core i7-6600U is a Skylake-based dual-core processor launched in late 2015 for ultra-thin laptops, operating at 2.6 GHz with a 3.4 GHz boost and a 15W TDP. Pros include strong single-core performance for office tasks, advanced business security features, and high energy efficiency. However, cons include limited multi-threaded performance due to only two cores and weak...Read more

C
cpubenchmark.net
01/09/2015
Intel Core i7-6600U @ 2.60GHz - CPU Benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-6600U is a 14nm Skylake-based, high-end dual-core processor with 4 threads, designed for 15W ULV ultrabooks with a 2.60 GHz base clock and 3.40 GHz boost. It features integrated HD Graphics 520, supporting 4K 60Hz display and light gaming, while supporting modern DDR4-2133 memory. The CPU is optimized for efficiency and professional, enterprise-grade tasks. A...Read more

T
techspot.com
12/02/2017
Razer Blade Stealth Review - TechSpot Would you like a comparison of how this specific model performed against its successor, the i7-7600U?

The TechSpot review of the Kaby Lake Razer Blade Stealth highlights a roughly 18% performance increase over the previous model, with the i7-7500U outperforming the Dell XPS 13 by 5%. Key pros include the premium, lightweight metal unibody, a highly tactile Chroma RGB keyboard, and versatile connectivity featuring Thunderbolt 3. Conversely, major cons include excessive, outdated...Read more

T
techspot.com
21/11/2016
Asus ZenBook 3 Review - TechSpot

The Asus ZenBook 3 review on TechSpot highlights the ultra-thin 910-gram laptop as a powerful Windows alternative featuring Intel Kaby Lake processors (i5-7200U/i7-7500U) that provide a notable 16% single-threaded performance boost. While offering high-end portability, the device suffers from significant drawbacks including a single USB-C port, shallow keyboard, and loud active...Read more

P
pcworld.com
25/11/2015
Tested: Why the iPad Pro really isn't as fast a laptop - PCWorld

The PCWorld review argues that while the 2015 iPad Pro’s A9X chip is an engineering marvel, it does not match the performance of modern Intel Core-class laptops in real-world productivity scenarios, despite appearing fast in limited benchmarks like Geekbench 3. Protests showed the iPad Pro lagging behind older Haswell-based Surface Pro 3 models in tasks like web browsing and file...Read more

T
techspot.com
21/12/2015
Microsoft Surface Book Review > Performance - TechSpot

The Microsoft Surface Book (Core i7/dGPU) delivers strong professional productivity, significantly outperforming standard ultrabooks in Photoshop, Lightroom, and 1080p Premiere Pro editing, though it struggles with 4K workloads. Its dual-battery system provides 8-10 hours of life when docked, but the standalone "Clipboard" tablet portion only offers around two hours of usage. While...Read more

P
pcworld.com
22/09/2016
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga review: This 2-in-1's OLED screen will color your computing world - PCWorld

The 2016 PCWorld review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga praises its 14-inch, 2,560x1440 RGB OLED display, which offers exceptional color accuracy and deep blacks, marking an industry-first for 2-in-1 devices. Weighing around 2.8 to 3 pounds, the convertible features a durable carbon-fiber build, a 360-degree hinge, a built-in rechargeable ThinkPad Pen Pro, and a "Lift and Lock"...Read more

T
techspot.com
21/12/2015
Microsoft Surface Book Review > Performance: Benchmarks - TechSpot

The Microsoft Surface Book features a premium build, a high-resolution 3:2 PixelSense display, and a highly responsive Surface Pen, along with a custom NVIDIA GPU in the base that offers strong performance for creatives. However, the innovative "dynamic fulcrum" hinge prevents it from closing flat and leaves a gap, while the top-heavy design results in screen wobble when typing,...Read more

C
computerbase.de
18/07/2016
Huawei MateBook Review: From Zero to 2-in-1 with One Major Flaw

The 2016 Huawei MateBook is a premium 2-in-1 Windows tablet praised for its 6.9mm aluminum chassis, high-quality display, and fanless, silent design. However, the device is limited by a single USB-C port, lacks an integrated kickstand, and requires expensive, separate purchases for the keyboard cover and stylus. Performance from the fanless Intel Core m processors is suitable for...Read more

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notebookcheck.com
01/07/2023
Intel Core i7-6600U vs Apple M3 Pro 12-Core: Comparison Test

The Apple M3 Pro (12-Core) represents a significant, 3nm-based performance leap over the older AMD Ryzen 5 6600U, delivering vastly superior CPU and GPU metrics. While the 6600U focuses on efficiency, the M3 Pro dominates in both single-core and multi-core tasks, offering roughly 65% faster multi-core performance in benchmarks like Cinebench R23. Key advantages for the M3 Pro...Read more

(Translated)Show original
L
laptopcentrum.nl
15/10/2021
Dell Latitude 5480 | Intel Core i7-6600U

The Dell Latitude 5480 is a durable 14-inch business laptop featuring an Intel Core i7-6600U processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB SSD, designed for reliable professional performance. Its carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer shell, passing 15 MIL-SPEC tests, offers excellent durability. Key advantages include extensive I/O ports, a comfortable keyboard, and long battery life exceeding...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
techzine.nl
10/07/2017
Microsoft Surface Book Review: A Striking Appearance

The Techzine review describes the original Microsoft Surface Book as a premium, "striking" 2-in-1 that effectively combines a high-quality magnesium chassis with a unique Dynamic Fulcrum Hinge, allowing the screen to detach as a standalone "Clipboard" tablet. Key strengths include exceptional performance for a hybrid, largely due to a dedicated Nvidia GPU located in the keyboard...Read more

(Translated)Show original
H
hardware.info
25/04/2017
Microsoft Surface Book review: the best notebook right now

According to Hardware.info, the original Microsoft Surface Book is a premium, magnesium-built hybrid prioritizing laptop performance, featuring an innovative but gap-prone Dynamic Fulcrum hinge. The device boasts strong performance via Intel Skylake processors, a discrete NVIDIA GPU, and a high-resolution 3:2 PixelSense display, though the tablet portion has limited battery life....Read more

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hardware.info
02/07/2026
Lenovo ThinkCentre X1 review: an all-in-one in a tailored suit

The Lenovo ThinkCentre X1 is a premium all-in-one (AIO) desktop featuring a 23.8-inch, anti-glare IPS display housed in an 11mm thin aluminum chassis, designed specifically for minimalist professional environments. Powered by laptop-grade components like the Intel Core i5-6200U, it offers silent, efficient performance for daily tasks while remaining highly durable. While the system...Read more

(Translated)Show original

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