- Improvement over Devil's Canyon
- 4.2 GHz stock performance
- Top quad core performance
- Not entirely overclocking friendly
- Very hot when overclocked
- Premium quad core pricing
Test Setup and Installation Notes
The configuration is a bit different since we’re using a new Z170 motherboard. The comparison will include a Z97 platform with the Intel Core i7-4770K, Core i7-4790K, and Core i7-5775C.
System 1
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K Skylake
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z170 Gaming 7
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB DDR4 2666
- Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX 980
- Storage: Kingston HyperX Savage 240GB SSD
- Cooling: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3
System 2
- Processors: Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell, 4790K Devil’s Canyon, 5775C Broadwell
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z97 Gaming GT
- Memory: Kingston HyperX Savage 16GB DDR3 2400
- Graphics: NVidia GeForce GTX 980
- Storage: Kingston HyperX Savage 240GB SSD
- Cooling: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3
The latest motherboard and graphics drivers were installed for best results. We’re using the latest F4h beta BIOS for the best results.
Benchmarks
In order to keep things simple, we’re using primarily CPU benchmarks. This includes Cinebench, HandBrake, SANDRA Math and Multimedia, Cryptography, Memory, PCMark 8 and discreet gaming.
Cinebench
The 6700K doesn’t make the same performance leap forward that Devil’s Canyon made. Keep in mind that the flagship Skylake 6700K is only 200 MHz faster than the Devil’s Canyon 4790K. Still, we’ll take what we can get.
Handbrake
The Intel Core i7-6700K was marginally faster than the 4790K. That’s expected since DDR4 memory uses higher timings. If you overclocked the 4790K with your board’s first BIOS OC preset, the performance would be identical if not slightly better thanks to lower timings. Keep that in mind if you’re a DIY enthusiast.
SANDRA – Math and Multimedia
While the Intel Core i7-6700K takes the lead in Multimedia Float and Math Dhrystone tests, Math Whetstone and Multimedia Integer tests see it trailing the i7-4770K/4790K. There may still be some optimizations in software to tweak, but out of the gate, its direct predecessors still give the new kid a run for its money. But let’s dive a bit deeper.