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Intel Core i7 6700HQ Review | 78 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£330
  • Avg. price in US: ~$380
  • PassMark benchmark result: 6522
  • N. of physical cores: 4
  • CPU boost clock speed: 3.5 GHz

Intel Core i7 6700HQ review. Compare 78 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among processors and if it is worth buying.

4.0

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%

4.0

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.0

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%

3.1

Performance

18.0%

4.7

Cache & Architecture

10.0%

4.3

Memory & PCIe

7.0%

6.7

Power & Thermal

4.0%

7.3

Platform

1.0%

6.8

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

  • 2.7
    Gaming

    Score components:

    30.0%

    2.8

    PassMark single-core benchmark score

    25.0%

    3.0

    Geekbench 6 single-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    3.1

    CPU boost clock speed

    17.0%

    1.8

    L3 cache

    8.0%

    1.8

    N. of physical cores

  • 2.2
    Video editing

    Score components:

    45.0%

    2.2

    Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark score

    20.0%

    1.8

    N. of physical cores

    20.0%

    2.8

    CPU threads

    15.0%

    1.8

    L3 cache

  • No image
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Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £330

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 i7-6700HQ is a high-performance quad-core mobile processor from the 6th Generation Skylake architecture, featuring 8 threads via Hyper-Threading, a 2.60 GHz base clock, and a 3.50 GHz max turbo frequency. Built on a 14nm lithography with a 45W TDP, it includes 6MB of Smart Cache and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 GPU, supporting up to 64GB of DDR4-2133 or DDR3L-1600 memory. Its main pros include strong multi-threaded performance for its era, making it well-suited for gaming and video editing, alongside improved power efficiency via technologies like Speed Shift and Duty Cycling. However, significant cons include its lack of official support for Windows 11, a locked multiplier that prevents overclocking, and its dated integrated graphics which struggle with modern high-end gaming.

Technical Specifications of processor Intel Core i7 6700HQ

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

4.0
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a technical score of 3.97 points, which is lower than that of 82.3% 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 6700HQ 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%

4.0

Overall score

40.0%

8.8

Price

5.4
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.4 points, which is lower than 88.4% 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 6700HQ 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

FCBGA1440
Intel Core i7 6700HQ uses the FCBGA1440 CPU socket, which is older than that of 81.4% of processors and equal to that of 4.8% 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 Core i7 6700HQ supports Intel 100 Series chipsets, which is narrower compatibility than 51% of processors and equal to that of 2.6% 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 6700HQ 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+

4
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has 4 CPU cores, which is fewer than 50.7% of processors and equal to 28.5% 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+

8
Intel Core i7 6700HQ offers 8 CPU threads, which is more than 35.3% of processors and equal to 19% 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 6700HQ 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

3.5 GHz
Intel Core i7 6700HQ reaches a boost clock of 3.5 GHz which is lower than that of 80.4% of processors and equal to that of 3.1% 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

4 x 2.6 GHz & 4 x 3.1 GHz
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a base clock of 4x2.6 GHz & 4x3.1 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 6700HQ 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 6700HQ 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

6 MB
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has an L3 cache of 6 MB which is smaller than that of 60.4% of processors and equal to that of 9.7% 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

1 MB
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has an L2 cache of 1 MB which is smaller than that of 67.1% of processors and equal to that of 17.6% 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

256 KB
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has an L1 cache of 256 KB which is smaller than that of 59.4% of processors and equal to that of 18.5% 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 6700HQ 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 6700HQ 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

DDR4-2400 MHz
Intel Core i7 6700HQ supports JEDEC memory speeds up to DDR4-2400 MHz, which is lower than that of 63.4% of processors and equal to 10.6% 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

64 GB
Intel Core i7 6700HQ supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is more than 28.4% of processors and equal to 27.6% of processors.
Show more
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 6700HQ 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 530
Intel Core i7 6700HQ uses the Intel HD Graphics 530 integrated GPU, which is less advanced than that in 78.4% of processors and equal to that in 2.3% 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 6700HQ 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

350 MHz
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has an integrated GPU clock of 350 MHz which is higher than that of 43.5% of processors and equal to that of 29.6% 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), VP9 (HW decode), VP8 (HW decode), MPEG-2 (HW decode/encode), VC-1 (HW decode)
Intel Core i7 6700HQ supports H.264 (HW decode/encode), H.265 (HW decode), VP9 (HW decode), VP8 (HW decode), MPEG-2 (HW decode/encode), VC-1 (HW decode) media codecs, which is broader support than 94.3% of processors and equal to 0.2% 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

45 W
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a TDP of 45 W which is lower than that of 39.9% of processors and equal to that of 11.4% 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

45 W
Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a base power of 45 W which is lower than that of 39.7% of processors and equal to that of 11.6% 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

?
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 6700HQ 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 6700HQ supports configurable TDP. 52.9% of processors support configurable TDP.
cTDP: 35 W
Show more

Intel Core i7 6700HQ vs the average processor

  • 31.5% smaller die size
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower die size than the average processor (122 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 6700HQ has a lower die size than the average processor (122 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².122 mm² vs 178 mm²
  • 72.3% faster Blender rendering
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (572 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 6700HQ has a lower Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (572 vs 331.88). The average processor needs 331.88 for the Blender BMW27 test.571.98 vs 331.88
  • Includes crypto acceleration
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ includes crypto acceleration, the average processor does not.
    What it is: Built-in hardware support for accelerating encryption and cryptographic tasks.
    When it matters: When encryption speed or secure workloads matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    Intel Core i7 6700HQ includes crypto acceleration, the average processor does not.AES, SHA, RSA/PKA vs AES, SHA
  • Includes crypto acceleration
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ includes crypto acceleration, the average processor does not.
  • 72.3% faster Blender rendering
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower Blender BMW27 render time than the average processor (572 vs 331.88). The average processor needs 331.88 for the Blender BMW27 test.
  • 31.5% smaller die size
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower die size than the average processor (122 mm² vs 178 mm²). The average processor has a die size of 178 mm².

Total
Platform
Performance
Cache & Architecture
  • Narrower instruction support
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ supports a narrower instruction set than the average processor (MMX, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, BMI1, BMI2 vs MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, F16C, FMA3, AES, SHA).
  • 5 year/s older release date
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has an older release date than the average processor (2,015 vs 2,020).
    September 2015
  • Older CPU socket
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ uses an older CPU socket than the average processor (FCBGA1,440 vs FP2).
  • 18.6% lower boost clock
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.5 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.
  • 22.9% weaker single-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,915 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.
  • 25.3% lower single-core score
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (1,099 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.
  • 40.7% weaker multi-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower multi-core performance than the average processor (1,651 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.
  • 2 fewer CPU cores
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has fewer CPU cores than the average processor (4 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.
  • 38.1% lower PassMark score
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower PassMark benchmark score than the average processor (6,522 vs 10,532.5). The average processor scores 10,532.5 in PassMark benchmark.
  • 28.1% lower multi-core score
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower Geekbench 6 multi-core score than the average processor (3,445 vs 4,793). The average processor scores 4,793 in Geekbench 6 multi-core.
  • 16.7% larger process node
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a higher process node than the average processor (14 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
  • 60% smaller L2 cache
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (1 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.
  • 50% less L2 per core
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ 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.
  • 12.5% less L3 per core
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has less L3 cache per core than the average processor (1.5 MB/core vs 1.714 MB/core). The average processor provides 1.714 MB/core of L3 cache per core.
  • 33.3% smaller L1 cache
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower L1 cache than the average processor (256 KB vs 384 KB). The average processor has L1 cache of 384 KB.
  • 25% smaller L3 cache
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower L3 cache than the average processor (6 MB vs 8 MB). The average processor has L3 cache of 8 MB.
  • Less advanced microarchitecture
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ uses a less advanced microarchitecture than the average processor (Skylake vs Kaby Lake).
  • 25.5% lower memory bandwidth
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ 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.
  • 27.3% lower memory speed
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ 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.
  • Older DDR support
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ supports an older DDR generation than the average processor (DDR3L/DDR4/LPDDR3 vs DDR4).
  • Inferior integrated GPU
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ uses an inferior integrated GPU to the average processor (Intel HD Graphics 530 vs Intel UHD Graphics 630).
  • 18.6% lower boost clock
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.5 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 6700HQ has a lower boost clock speed than the average processor (3.5 GHz vs 4.3 GHz). The average processor reaches boost clock speed of 4.3 GHz.3.5 GHz vs 4.3 GHz
  • 22.9% weaker single-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,915 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 6700HQ has a lower PassMark single-core score than the average processor (1,915 vs 2,483). The average processor scores 2,483 in PassMark single-core.1,915 vs 2,483
  • 25.3% lower single-core score
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (1,099 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 6700HQ has a lower Geekbench 6 single-core score than the average processor (1,099 vs 1,471). The average processor scores 1,471 in Geekbench 6 single-core.1,099 vs 1,471
  • 2 fewer CPU cores
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has fewer CPU cores than the average processor (4 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 6700HQ has fewer CPU cores than the average processor (4 vs 6). The average processor has 6 CPU cores.4 vs 6
  • 40.7% weaker multi-core performance
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower multi-core performance than the average processor (1,651 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 6700HQ has a lower multi-core performance than the average processor (1,651 vs 2,783). The average processor scores 2,783 in Cinebench R20 multi-core.1,651 vs 2,783
  • 16.7% larger process node
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a higher process node than the average processor (14 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.
    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

    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a higher process node than the average processor (14 nm vs 12 nm). The average processor uses a process node of 12 nm.14 nm vs 12 nm
  • 50% less L2 per core
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ 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.
    What it is: The amount of L2 cache available to each CPU core.
    When it matters: When you are comparing per-core cache resources in deeper architectural analysis.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=1 MB/core

    Intel Core i7 6700HQ 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.0.25 MB/core vs 0.5 MB/core
  • 60% smaller L2 cache
    Intel Core i7 6700HQ has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (1 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 6700HQ has a lower L2 cache than the average processor (1 MB vs 2.5 MB). The average processor has L2 cache of 2.5 MB.1 MB vs 2.5 MB
Total
Overall
Platform
Performance
Cache & Architecture
Memory & PCIe
Integrated Graphics

Graphic comparison of Intel Core i7 6700HQ and other processors

Attribute category
Attribute
No results found

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Intel Core i7 6700HQ?

  • Efficient power consumption compared to older generations like Haswell
  • Solid multi-tasking performance with 4 cores and 8 threads
  • Improved integrated graphics (Intel HD 530) over previous models
  • Lower operating temperatures leading to less thermal throttling in slim designs
  • Reliable 'workhorse' for everyday tasks, office work, and light creative editing

What customers dislike about Intel Core i7 6700HQ?

  • Minor performance improvement over predecessors (only 5-10% faster than i7-4710HQ)
  • Lower Turbo Boost speeds compared to some older Broadwell models like the i7-5700HQ
  • Integrated graphics are still insufficient for demanding modern AAA gaming
  • BGA (soldered) design means the processor cannot be easily upgraded or replaced
  • Performance can struggle and cause frame drops in intensive modern gaming scenarios

Expert reviews

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cpubenchmark.net
No specific date
Intel Core i7-6700HQ @ 2.60GHz - CPU Benchmarks Would you like to see a comparison of these benchmark scores against its desktop counterpart, the i7-6...

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ is a Skylake-based quad-core processor (2.60 GHz base, 3.50 GHz turbo) designed for high-performance notebooks, featuring 8 threads and a 45W TDP. It features integrated Intel HD Graphics 530, supporting 4K resolution and providing a 20% performance increase over previous generations. Pros include an excellent balance of power efficiency through its 14nm...Read more

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cpu.userbenchmark.com
No specific date
Intel Core i7-6700HQ - CPU UserBenchmarks

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ is a 14nm Skylake-based quad-core processor (2.6-3.5 GHz) released in late 2015 for high-performance laptops. It features 6MB L3 cache and supports DDR4, offering improved efficiency and sustained performance compared to its Haswell predecessors. Key advantages include superior energy efficiency, reduced thermal throttling, and faster data speeds via DMI...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
28/08/2015
Intel Core i7-6700HQ - one of the top-shelf mobile Skylake CPUs gets benchmarked

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ is a high-performance 14nm Skylake-H quad-core processor featuring a 2.6 GHz base clock, with 3.5 GHz turbo speeds and DDR4 memory support. Benchmarks indicate a 5–10% performance increase over Haswell predecessors, though it trails the Broadwell i7-5700HQ in multi-core tasks, while providing better power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling. Key...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
19/01/2016
Intel Core i5-6300HQ vs Intel Core i7-6700HQ – which is better for gaming

The Intel Core i5-6300HQ and i7-6700HQ are both high-performance, 45W mobile processors, but the i7 offers a significant advantage in multi-threaded tasks due to higher clock speeds (up to 3.5 GHz) and Hyper-Threading. While the i7 shines in professional workloads like video editing, the i5-6300HQ, featuring four physical cores at a 2.3 GHz base clock, provides a more cost-effective...Read more

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ultrabookreview.com
09/02/2016
Intel Core i7-6700HQ benchmarks (vs Core i7-5700HQ and i7-4720HQ)

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ acts as an efficient "solid all-rounder," prioritizing lower power consumption over substantial speed gains compared to older Haswell processors. While offering only marginal, 5-10% performance increases over the i7-4710HQ, it boasts improved thermal efficiency, DDR4 memory support, and a roughly 20% faster integrated HD Graphics 530. However, the chip faces...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
09/09/2015
Intel Skylake Core i7-6700HQ and Core i7-6500U review

The 6th Generation Skylake architecture focuses on power efficiency and features like Intel Speed Shift and Duty Cycling, delivering rapid frequency adjustments and lower idle power consumption. The high-performance Core i7-6700HQ (45W) features improved efficiency and DDR4 support, though it offers only a 5-10% performance boost over its predecessor, while the 15W Core i7-6500U...Read more

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openbenchmarking.org
Q4 2015
Intel Core i7-6700HQ Benchmarks, Linux Performance

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ is a 4-core/8-thread, 45W Skylake mobile processor designed for high-performance laptops. Linux benchmarks show it remains a capable, yet aged, processor that offers reliable performance for multitasking and multimedia. Pros include improved efficiency and support for modern instructions, with performance gains of 5-10% over the i7-4710HQ. However, the chip...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
09/09/2015
Intel Skylake Core i7-6700HQ and Core i7-6500U review

LaptopMedia's review of Intel's Skylake architecture highlights a focus on efficiency, featuring Intel Speed Shift technology for faster responsiveness and enhanced power management. The high-performance Core i7-6700HQ offers improved performance and DDR4 support, though clock-for-clock gains over Broadwell are modest, while the Core i7-6500U provides strong efficiency for...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
09/09/2015
Intel Skylake Core i7-6700HQ and Core i7-6500U Review: Focusing on Features

The LaptopMedia review of Intel’s 6th Gen Skylake architecture highlights a focus on power efficiency and optimization over pure performance, introducing DDR4 support and Intel Speed Shift technology to improve responsiveness. The quad-core i7-6700HQ offers strong performance for gaming and multitasking, along with improved HD Graphics 530, though the IPC gains over Haswell are...Read more

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computerbase.de
09/12/2015
Intel Core i7-6700HQ Review: Desktop-Class Performance at a Core i5 Level

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake) brings high-performance quad-core power to notebooks, with benchmarks showing performance close to the desktop Core i5-6600K and advantages in multi-threaded tasks due to Hyper-Threading. Built on a 14nm process, it supports DDR4-2133 memory, features faster integrated HD Graphics 530, and utilizes DMI 3.0 for better data transfer speeds. However,...Read more

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hardwareluxx.de
25/09/2015
Intel Skylake Core i7-6700HQ Reviewed - Hardwareluxx

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake) processor brings 14nm architectural refinements focused on enhanced efficiency, supporting faster DDR4 memory and integrated Gen9 graphics (HD Graphics 530) for gaming and multimedia notebooks. Pros include approximately 5-10% better performance-per-clock over Haswell, superior power management, lower thermal output under load, and strong...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
28/08/2015
Intel Core i7-6700HQ: One of the high-end mobile Skylake CPUs put to the test

The Intel Core i7-6700HQ is a 14nm Skylake-H quad-core processor featuring four cores, eight threads, and speeds up to 3.5 GHz, representing a significant shift towards improved responsiveness via Intel Speed Shift technology. While offering 5-10% better performance than the Haswell i7-4710HQ, it surprisingly trails the Broadwell i7-5700HQ by 5% in multi-core tasks, yet excels in...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
09/09/2015
Intel Skylake Core i7-6700HQ and Core i7-6500U Review

The LaptopMedia review of Intel Skylake (Core i7-6700HQ and i7-6500U) highlights the 14nm FinFET architecture's focus on power efficiency and efficiency-boosting technologies like Intel Speed Shift, which reduces response times to 1ms. A significant pro is this increased efficiency for bursty tasks, though a con is that these improvements are less visible in steady-state synthetic...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
19/01/2016
Intel Core i5-6300HQ vs. Intel Core i7-6700HQ: Would you like to see benchmarks comparing these processors to newer 12th or 13th generation mobile chi...

According to LaptopMedia, the Intel Core i7-6700HQ offers superior 30-40% faster multi-threaded performance with Hyper-Threading, while the i5-6300HQ is a 4-core, 4-thread processor without it. However, for gaming, the performance gap is negligible (1-2 fps) because most games are GPU-bound rather than CPU-bound, making the extra cost for the i7 often unnecessary for gamers. The...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
06/10/2016
ASUS X550VX / K550VX review - gaming on a budget

The ASUS X550VX (K550VX) is highlighted by LaptopMedia as a budget-oriented laptop focusing on performance, featuring a quad-core Intel Core i7-6700HQ/i5-6300HQ and a GDDR5 version of the NVIDIA GTX 950M. Pros include an excellent price-to-performance ratio for gaming and a decent touchpad, though the chassis is entirely plastic with noticeable, "mushy" flexing. Significant...Read more

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laptopmedia.com
14/10/2015
Acer Predator 17 (G9-791) review

The Acer Predator 17 (G9-791) enters the high-end gaming market as a robust competitor, featuring an aggressive design, sturdy build quality, a high-quality keyboard, and a strong 4.2 audio system. Powered by an Intel Core i7-6700HQ and NVIDIA GTX 980M, the unit excels in performance, with a "flawless" cooling system. However, it is heavy and the optional "FrostCore" cooling module...Read more

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notebookcheck.nl
27/04/2016
Short Review of Lenovo ThinkPad T460p (Core i7, GeForce 940MX)

The Lenovo ThinkPad T460p is a 14-inch business laptop designed for high performance, featuring a quad-core Intel Core i7-6820HQ processor and NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics. It boasts robust build quality, an excellent keyboard, and a wide array of connectivity options. Pros include superior processing power for its class and long battery life with the 72Wh option, while cons...Read more

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notebookcheck.nl
18/02/2016
Short review: Dell XPS 15 9550 (Core i7, FHD) Notebook

The Dell XPS 15 9550 is a powerful multimedia laptop featuring a Core i7-6700HQ, GTX 960M, and a durable chassis with an "InfinityEdge" display that packs a 15.6-inch screen into a smaller footprint. Pros include a high-quality matte FHD panel, excellent input devices, and a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port for solid connectivity. However, notable cons include thermal throttling under heavy...Read more

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