Intel Core i7-6950X vs Intel Core i9-10900K

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Core i7-6950X compared with Core i9-10900K

	IntelCore i7-6950X	IntelCore i9-10900K
Overview
Released
Released	May 2016	May 2020
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	10	10
Threads
Threads	20	20
Base clock
Base clock	3 GHz	3.7 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	4 GHz	5.3 GHz (better)
L3 cache
L3 cache	25 MB (better)	20 MB
Cores
Cores	Broadwell-E; 10 cores with Hyper-Threading. The unlocked multiplier is confirmed by the exact-model reviews.	Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost Max 3.0 and Thermal Velocity Boost supported.
Clocks
Clocks	Turbo Boost Max 3.0 up to 4.00 GHz on the preferred core; ordinary Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.50 GHz. The main boost field uses Intel’s highest published frequency. May availability follows Tom’s Hardware’s 31 May 2016 report, attributing immediate sale of all four models to Intel. Intel’s family record is dated 30 May and ARK gives Q2 2016; the announcement day is not treated as an exact first-sale day.	Up to 5.3 GHz with Thermal Velocity Boost at its 70°C temperature threshold; up to 5.2 GHz with Turbo Boost Max 3.0, or 5.1 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0. Configurable TDP-down to 95 W with a 3.3 GHz base clock. Tom's Hardware reports 250 W during boost; the current Intel specification page publishes TDP only.
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	Yes
Graphics
Graphics	No processor graphics, confirmed by Intel’s exact-model comparison-chart row; a separate graphics solution is required.	Intel UHD Graphics 630; 350 MHz base, up to 1.2 GHz; up to 64 GB shared graphics memory; three displays. HDMI up to 4096×2160 at 30 Hz; DisplayPort up to 4096×2304 at 60 Hz; Quick Sync Video supported.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA2011-v3	LGA1200
Base power
Base power	140 W	125 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	Yes	Yes
Cooler in the box
Cooler in the box	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	Up to 128 GB; four channels of DDR4-2133/2400; no ECC.	Up to 128 GB; two channels; DDR4-2933; 45.8 GB/s maximum bandwidth; ECC not supported.
PCIe
PCIe	40 CPU lanes; PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0; 16 CPU lanes, configured as 1×16, 2×8 or 1×8+2×4.
Chipsets
Chipsets	X99 and LGA2011-v3, distinguished by Intel’s exact-model comparison chart and the reviews. Current ARK abbreviates the socket as FCLGA2011; this is not compatible with the older X79 LGA2011 platform.	–
Process
Process	14 nm; Broadwell-E.	14 nm; Comet Lake; 37.5 × 37.5 mm package; 100°C maximum junction temperature.
Cooler
Cooler	Intel explicitly excludes a fan and heatsink from the boxed product; a separate compatible cooler is required.	No cooler included with the boxed processor (Tom's Hardware exact-model review); an LGA1200-compatible thermal solution is required.