6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K
- Boost/Base Clock:
- 3.9 GHz Boost Clock
- Core/Thread Count:
- 4 Core / 4 Thread
- Cache:
- 6MB L3
- CPU Socket:
- FCLGA1151
- CPU Series:
- Skylake, 6th Gen Intel Core
- Form Factor:
- Desktop
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Manufacturer: Intel Last updated: September 9, 2026
6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K Review
The 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K is an unlocked 4-core desktop processor built on Skylake, boosting up to 3.9 GHz within a 6MB L3 cache on the LGA 1151 socket.
As one of the most widely adopted enthusiast gaming CPUs of the mid-2010s, this chip's unlocked multiplier and genuinely strong per-core performance kept it relevant among PC gamers for years after launch.
Integrated Graphics
The standard variant includes basic Intel integrated graphics for display output; enthusiast desktop builds around this chip typically pair it with a discrete GPU.
How Is the Core i5 6600K in Terms of Performance
The unlocked multiplier and genuinely strong per-core Skylake performance made this chip a widely adopted enthusiast gaming choice at launch, remaining relevant among PC gamers for years afterward.
Benchmarks
The benchmarks below are published results for specific applications. They are measured separately and do not feed the two scores above.
Puget Bench for Photoshop v1.0 - points (More is Better)
- Apple M5 Max15043.83 points
- Apple M5 Pro14885.21 points
- Apple M512095.89 points
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D12088.31 points
- Intel Core i9-14900KF10029.96 points
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7 11700K7098.88 points
- 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900KF6892.97 points
- 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K (this product)3715 points
Puget Systems runs a fixed set of real Photoshop jobs: opening and saving large files, resizing, content-aware fill, blurs and filters. A higher score means less waiting on the tasks a retoucher repeats all day.
Photoshop is decided mostly by how fast a few cores are, not how many there are, so a chip with fewer but faster cores often beats one with more cores. Treat a gap under about 5 percent as something you would never notice while working.
Benchmarks
Cinebench R20 single-core scores of 392 reflect solid per-core performance for its generation, a key reason this chip remained a popular gaming CPU choice well beyond its original launch window.
Our verdict
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Buyers of this era wanting genuine overclocking flexibility on a widely adopted enthusiast gaming chip
Not for
- Buyers wanting the latest architecture, 8th Gen and newer chips offer meaningfully more cores and better IPC
Specifications
What these specs meanIdentity
| Brand | Intel |
|---|---|
| Product Line | Core i5 |
| Model Number | 6600K |
| Codename | Skylake |
| Release Year | 2015 |
Segment and platform
| Market Segment | Desktop |
|---|---|
| Microarchitecture | Skylake, 6th Gen Intel Core |
| Socket | FCLGA1151 |
| Socket Status | End of Life |
| Process Node | 14 nm |
Core configuration
| Total Cores | 4 |
|---|---|
| Performance Cores | 4 |
| Efficiency Cores | 0 |
| Total Threads | 4 |
| SMT Enabled | No |
Clock speeds
| P-Core Base Clock | 3.5 GHz |
|---|---|
| P-Core Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz |
| Unlocked Multiplier | Yes |
Cache
| L2 Cache | 1 MB |
|---|---|
| L3 Cache | 6 MB |
Power and thermal
| Base Power | 91 W |
|---|---|
| Bundled Cooler | None |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR4 |
|---|---|
| Max Memory Speed | 2133 MT/s |
| Memory Channels | 2 |
| Max Memory Capacity | 64 GB |
| ECC Support | No |
Graphics and AI
| Integrated Graphics | Yes |
|---|---|
| iGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 530 |
| iGPU Compute Units | 24 |
| Copilot Plus Certified | No |
Expansion
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 |
|---|---|
| PCIe Lanes | 16 |
Commercial
| Launch MSRP | 242 USD |
|---|---|
| Retail Availability | Discontinued |
| Form Factor | Desktop |
|---|---|
| TDP | 91 W |
| iGPU | Intel HD Graphics 530 |
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K?
The 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K has 4 cores and 4 threads, a 3.5 GHz base and 3.9 GHz boost clock, 6 MB of L3 cache and a 91 W TDP. Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530. Socket: FCLGA1151.
Will the 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K work with my current setup?
The 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K lists CPU Socket is FCLGA 1151. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K best suited to?
Best suited to: Buyers of this era wanting genuine overclocking flexibility on a widely adopted enthusiast gaming chip.
What are the drawbacks of the 6th Gen Intel Core i5 6600K?
Not the best fit for: Buyers wanting the latest architecture, 8th Gen and newer chips offer meaningfully more cores and better IPC.