Feex·CPU
Intel · Core i7 · Desktop

Intel® Core™ i7-6850K

The Intel Core i7-6850K is a desktop processor released on April 1, 2016, built on the Broadwell architecture using a 14 nm process. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 3.60 GHz, a maximum boost of 3.80 GHz, 15 MB of L3 cache, a 140 W TDP and the FCLGA2011 socket.

Cores
6
Threads
12
Boost Clock
3.8 GHz
Base Clock
3.6 GHz
Architecture
Broadwell
Socket
FCLGA2011
Process Node
14 nm
TDP
140 W
Core layout
PPPPPP
6 Performance 12 Threads
Notable capabilities:Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Overview

The Intel Core i7-6850K is a desktop processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, built on the Broadwell architecture (14 nm process). It launched in Apr 2016. Clocks run from 3.6 GHz base to 3.8 GHz boost. A 15-MB L3 cache backs the cores (2.8 MB per core). It addresses DDR4 memory up to 128 GB across 4 channels. The chip drops into the FCLGA2011 socket and exposes PCIe 3.0 (40 lanes). Rated TDP is 140 W. Notable platform capabilities: Extended Page Tables (EPT).

Performance

Overall CPU Performance computed
5,216
21% of reference
Reference ceiling 25,000
Multi-Core Performance PassMark rating
11,388
9% of reference
Reference ceiling 120,000
Single-Core Performance PassMark rating
2,389
43% of reference
Reference ceiling 5,500
Productivity Performance computed
10,747
7% of reference
Reference ceiling 160,000
Creator Performance computed
10,564
8% of reference
Reference ceiling 140,000
Engineering Performance computed
11,317
6% of reference
Reference ceiling 200,000
Gaming Performance computed
10,014
46% of reference
Reference ceiling 22,000
Performance per Core computed
1,898
9% of reference
Reference ceiling 21,053
Performance per Thread computed
949
9% of reference
Reference ceiling 10,527
Performance per Watt computed
81
4% of reference
Reference ceiling 2,000
Efficiency Index computed
441
11% of reference
Reference ceiling 4,000
Performance index computed
65
Intel Core i5-12400 = 100

The Intel Core i7-6850K scores 2,389 in single-core performance and 11,388 in multi-core performance (PassMark CPU Mark ratings). From those two ratings Feex computes 5,216 for overall performance, 10,747 for productivity performance, 10,564 for creator performance, 11,317 for engineering performance and 10,014 for gaming performance. Its multi-core throughput works out to 1,898 per core, 949 per thread and 81 per watt. Its computed efficiency index is 441. Its performance index is 65, so its overall performance is 35% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (index 100). Each bar shows the score as a share of a reference ceiling, which is the larger of the 99th-percentile score across the Feex CPU database and a fixed baseline.

How these scores are computed

Single-core and multi-core performance are PassMark CPU Mark single-thread and multi-thread ratings. Every other figure on this page's performance section is computed by Feex from those two ratings plus core count, thread count and TDP, so it is a derived value and not a separate benchmark run.

  • Overall performance is the geometric mean of the two ratings: the square root of single-core times multi-core.
  • Productivity performance is 0.65 times multi-core plus 1.4 times single-core.
  • Creator performance is 0.55 times multi-core plus 1.8 times single-core.
  • Engineering performance is multi-core times the smaller of 1.4 and (0.9 plus cores divided by 64).
  • Gaming performance is 3 times single-core plus 0.25 times multi-core.
  • Performance per core, per thread and per watt divide the multi-core rating by physical cores, logical threads and TDP in watts.
  • The efficiency index is the square root of single-core times multi-core, divided by the square root of TDP.
  • The performance index is overall performance divided by the overall performance of the Intel Core i5-12400 (8,069), times 100.

Workload Benchmarks

Scores for individual PassMark CPU Mark test categories. Higher is better. These are measured test scores, not computed from the single-core and multi-core ratings.

Integer Math Throughput
39,516
6% of reference
Reference ceiling 617,811
33% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (58,893)
Raw integer arithmetic throughput across cores.
Floating-Point Math
25,834
4% of reference
Reference ceiling 600,000
44% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (45,899)
Heavy floating-point math, mixed precision.
Compression Performance
171,383
7% of reference
Reference ceiling 2,309,868
25% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (228,054)
Throughput on lossless compression workloads.
Cryptography Performance
3,154
2% of reference
Reference ceiling 137,106
73% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (11,489)
Symmetric encryption and hashing throughput.
Physics Simulation
835
7% of reference
Reference ceiling 12,291
23% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (1,090)
Iterative physics & rigid-body simulation.
Vector / SIMD Throughput
10,950
6% of reference
Reference ceiling 172,975
29% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (15,509)
Wide-vector SIMD intrinsics performance.
Prime Sieve
49
5% of reference
Reference ceiling 1,067
27% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (67)
Searching for prime numbers (branch-heavy work).
Sort Performance
21,791
8% of reference
Reference ceiling 260,323
4% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (22,652)
Random string sorting throughput.

In the individual workload tests the Intel Core i7-6850K scores 39,516 in integer math, 25,834 in floating-point math, 171,383 in compression, 3,154 in cryptography, 835 in physics simulation, 10,950 in vector SIMD, 49 in the prime sieve and 21,791 in sorting. Higher is better. Compared with the Intel Core i5-12400, it is 33% below in integer math, 44% below in floating-point math, 25% below in compression, 73% below in cryptography, 23% below in physics simulation, 29% below in vector SIMD, 27% below in the prime sieve and 4% below in sorting. Each bar shows the score as a share of that workload's reference ceiling, the larger of the 99th-percentile score across CPUs with a recorded value and a fixed baseline.

Core Configuration

Cores
6
Threads
12
Threads per Core
2
Base Clock
3.6 GHz
Boost Clock
3.8 GHz

The Intel Core i7-6850K has 6 physical cores and runs 12 logical threads. It runs 2 threads per core. It runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and boosts up to 3.80 GHz.

Architecture & Generation

Manufacturer
Intel
Family
Core i7
Segment
Desktop
Generation
Intel Core X-series Processors
Architecture
Broadwell
Codename
Broadwell E
Process Node
14 nm
Lithography
14 nm
Release Date
Apr 2016

The Intel Core i7-6850K is a desktop processor, belongs to the Intel Core i7 family, uses the Broadwell architecture, carries the codename Broadwell E and is manufactured on a 14 nm process. It launched in Apr 2016.

Cache

L1 Cache (Total)
384 KB
L2 Cache (Total)
1.5 MB
L2 Cache (per Core)
256 KB
L3 Cache
15 MB
Cache per Core
2.8 MB
Total Cache
16.9 MB

The Intel Core i7-6850K has 384 KB of L1 cache, 1.50 MB of L2 cache and 15 MB of L3 cache. That adds up to about 16.9 MB of cache, or 2.81 MB per core. Each core has 256 KB of private L2 cache.

Cache Hierarchy

L1L2L3
L1 384 KBL2 1.5 MBL3 15 MB

The Intel Core i7-6850K has a 3-level cache hierarchy: L1 at 384 KB, L2 at 1.5 MB and L3 at 15 MB. L3 is the largest level and makes up about 89% of the cache listed here.

Memory Support

Max Memory
128 GB
Memory Channels
4
Memory Bandwidth
76.8 GB/s
Memory Types
DDR4
DDR5 Support
No
DDR4 Support
Yes
LPDDR Support
No
Max Memory Speed
2,400

The Intel Core i7-6850K supports DDR4 memory, addresses up to 128 GB of memory, uses 4 memory channels, runs memory at up to 2,400 MT/s and delivers up to 76.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It does not support DDR5 and LPDDR memory.

Graphics

Integrated Graphics
No

The Intel Core i7-6850K does not include integrated graphics, so a discrete graphics card is required for display output.

Platform & Compatibility

Socket
FCLGA2011
PCIe Generation
3.0
PCIe Lanes
40

The Intel Core i7-6850K uses the FCLGA2011 socket, supports PCI Express 3.0 and provides up to 40 PCIe lanes.

Power & Thermals

TDP
140 W

The Intel Core i7-6850K has a rated TDP of 140 W.

Platform Capabilities

Instruction sets, security, virtualization, AI acceleration and OS readiness. Features are listed as supported, explicitly not supported, or not recorded; a feature that is not recorded is not the same as unsupported.

Instruction Sets

20 supported
Supported
AES-NIAVX2AVXFMA64-bit (x86-64)BMI1BMI2F16CPCLMULQDQRDRANDRDSEEDSSE4.1SSE4.2x86-64-v3SSESSE2SSE3SSSE3x86-64-v2MMX
Not supported
SHAx86-64-v4
Not recorded
AMXAVX-512AVX-VNNICETCET-IBTCET-SS

Security and Reliability

4 supported
Supported
Execute Disable (NX)Hardware RNGSGXTrusted Execution
Not recorded
AES-NIControl-flow Enforcement (CET)Boot GuardHardware ShieldOS GuardOS Guard (SMAP)

Virtualization

4 supported
Supported
Extended Page Tables (EPT)VT-d (DMA Remapping)VT-x (Hardware Virtualization)Second-Level Address Translation
Not recorded
VT-x with EPTIOMMUUnrestricted Guest

OS Compatibility

0 supported
Not supported
Windows 11 eligible

The Intel Core i7-6850K supports AES-NI, AVX2, AVX, FMA, 64-bit (x86-64), BMI1, BMI2, F16C, PCLMULQDQ, RDRAND, RDSEED, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, x86-64-v3, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, x86-64-v2 and MMX among its instruction set features. It does not support SHA and x86-64-v4. Feex has no record for AMX, AVX-512, AVX-VNNI, CET, CET-IBT and CET-SS, which is different from being unsupported.

The Intel Core i7-6850K supports Execute Disable (NX), Hardware RNG, SGX and Trusted Execution among its security features. Feex has no record for AES-NI, Control-flow Enforcement (CET), Boot Guard, Hardware Shield, OS Guard and OS Guard (SMAP), which is different from being unsupported.

The Intel Core i7-6850K supports Extended Page Tables (EPT), VT-d (DMA Remapping), VT-x (Hardware Virtualization) and Second-Level Address Translation among its virtualization features. Feex has no record for VT-x with EPT, IOMMU and Unrestricted Guest, which is different from being unsupported.

Feex records these as not true for the Intel Core i7-6850K: Windows 11 eligible.

Physical & Manufacturing

Launch Price
$617

The Intel Core i7-6850K is manufactured by Intel. It launched at a price of $617.

Naming & Aliases

Display Name
Intel® Core™ i7-6850K
Model Number
i7-6850K
Product line brand
Core

The Intel Core i7-6850K is also identified by the model number i7-6850K.

Corrections to this record

After an audit, 1 value was corrected on the Intel Core i7-6850K record. Each change is listed with its old value, new value, rule and sources.

  • Integrated graphics: Yes → No.

The audit log is public: all changes for this CPU, the corrections overview and the method.

Real-world compute in the Feex fleet

No Feex fleet machines with the Intel Core i7-6850K have reported compute telemetry yet, so real-world compute for this processor is not recorded.

How fleet compute is measured · Fleet compute leaderboard · JSON

Data Coverage

Feex has recorded 60% of the specifications it tracks for the Intel Core i7-6850K. Values Feex does not hold are shown as "Not recorded" rather than estimated.

Not recorded: Core Configuration: Performance Cores, Efficiency Cores, Hybrid Architecture, All-Core Boost and Unlocked Multiplier. Architecture & Generation: ISA Family and Market Status. Cache: L4 Cache. Memory Support: ECC Memory. Platform & Compatibility: Package and Package Size. Power & Thermals: Base Power, Maximum Turbo Power, Configurable TDP (Min), Configurable TDP (Max), Max Junction Temperature and Tcase. Physical & Manufacturing: Transistor Count, Die Size, Die Count and Foundry. Naming & Aliases: Normalized Name, SKU, Processor Number and Part Number.

Common questions

How many cores and threads does the Intel Core i7-6850K have?

The Intel Core i7-6850K has 6 cores and 12 threads.

What architecture does the Intel Core i7-6850K use?

The Intel Core i7-6850K is built on the Broadwell architecture on a 14 nm process.

Does the Intel Core i7-6850K have integrated graphics?

No. The Intel Core i7-6850K does not include integrated graphics.

What socket does the Intel Core i7-6850K use?

The Intel Core i7-6850K uses the FCLGA2011 socket.

What memory does the Intel Core i7-6850K support?

The Intel Core i7-6850K supports DDR4 up to 128 GB across 4 channels.

How fast does the Intel Core i7-6850K run?

The Intel Core i7-6850K can boost up to 3.8 GHz, with a 3.6 GHz base clock.

What is the TDP of the Intel Core i7-6850K?

The Intel Core i7-6850K has a TDP of 140 W.

How does the Intel Core i7-6850K perform?

In the Feex normalized performance dataset, the Intel Core i7-6850K scores 11,388 multi-core and 2,389 single-core.

What advanced capabilities does the Intel Core i7-6850K support?

Notable platform capabilities reported for the Intel Core i7-6850K include Extended Page Tables (EPT).

How much cache does the Intel Core i7-6850K have?

The Intel Core i7-6850K has 384 KB of L1 cache, 1536 KB of L2 cache and 15 MB of L3 cache.

How does the Intel Core i7-6850K compare with the Intel Core i5-12400?

The Intel Core i7-6850K has a computed performance index of 65, which is 35% below the Intel Core i5-12400 (index 100). The index is derived from the single-core and multi-core ratings.

Which features does the Intel Core i7-6850K not support?

The Intel Core i7-6850K does not support SHA and x86-64-v4.