Core i7-7820X vs Ryzen 5 6600U

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-7820X

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (11 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $599 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 6600U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌833.3% higher power demand at 140W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 6600U moves to FP7 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 6600U

2022

Why buy it

✅+45.5% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 11 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 140W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-7820X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,992 vs 17,171).

Core i7-7820X

2017

Ryzen 5 6600U

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+45.5% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 11 MB).
✅Draws 15W instead of 140W, a 125W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7 with DDR5 support instead of LGA2066 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (11 MB vs 16 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $599 MSRP, while Ryzen 5 6600U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌833.3% higher power demand at 140W vs 15W.
❌Older platform position on LGA2066 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 6600U moves to FP7 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-7820X across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (16,992 vs 17,171).

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-7820X better than Ryzen 5 6600U?

Yes. Core i7-7820X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 8.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-7820X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 8.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-7820X is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-7820X is the smarter buy today. Core i7-7820X is at an unclear MSRP at $599 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 8.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (28.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 6600U is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2017), a healthier platform with FP7 and DDR5 instead of LGA2066, and 45.5% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 11 MB). That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-7820X Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 6600U Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	208 FPS	167 FPS
medium	165 FPS	145 FPS
high	132 FPS	117 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	174 FPS	142 FPS
medium	136 FPS	121 FPS
high	109 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	82 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	79 FPS
medium	74 FPS	72 FPS
high	59 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	45 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Ryzen 5 6600U

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	364 FPS	353 FPS
medium	297 FPS	294 FPS
high	265 FPS	259 FPS
ultra	233 FPS	228 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	304 FPS
medium	270 FPS	258 FPS
high	242 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	209 FPS	202 FPS
4K
low	255 FPS	226 FPS
medium	216 FPS	195 FPS
high	199 FPS	179 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	146 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Ryzen 5 6600U

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	429 FPS	425 FPS
medium	429 FPS	425 FPS
high	429 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	344 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	425 FPS
medium	429 FPS	400 FPS
high	429 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	301 FPS
4K
low	429 FPS	340 FPS
medium	405 FPS	284 FPS
high	364 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	292 FPS	193 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Ryzen 5 6600U

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-7820X	Ryzen 5 6600U
1080p
low	429 FPS	425 FPS
medium	429 FPS	425 FPS
high	429 FPS	425 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	425 FPS
1440p
low	429 FPS	425 FPS
medium	429 FPS	425 FPS
high	429 FPS	425 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	425 FPS
4K
low	429 FPS	425 FPS
medium	429 FPS	425 FPS
high	429 FPS	414 FPS
ultra	429 FPS	359 FPS

Open Core i7-7820X Open Ryzen 5 6600U

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-7820X and Ryzen 5 6600U

Core i7-7820X

The Core i7-7820X is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 June 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 11 MB (total). L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2066. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 17,171 points. Launch price was $599.

Ryzen 5 6600U

The Ryzen 5 6600U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FP7. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 16,992 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-7820X packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 6600U offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-7820X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.5 GHz on the Core i7-7820X versus 4.5 GHz on the Ryzen 5 6600U — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Core i7-7820X uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 6600U uses Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-7820X scores 17,171 against the Ryzen 5 6600U's 16,992 — a 1% lead for the Core i7-7820X. L3 cache: 11 MB (total) on the Core i7-7820X vs 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 6600U.

Feature	Core i7-7820X	Ryzen 5 6600U
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.5 GHz	4.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+24%	2.9 GHz
L3 Cache	11 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+45%
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)+100%	512K (per core)
Process	14 nm	6 nm-57%
Architecture	Skylake (server) (2017−2018)	Rembrandt-U (Zen 3+) (2022)
PassMark	17,171+1%	16,992

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-7820X uses the LGA2066 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 6600U uses FP7 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.