Core i7-6950X CPU Review

Intro

Intel just launched its new family of X99 high-end CPUs, using LGA2011-v3 socket. Those new processors are codenamed “Broadwell-E”, and the most high-end model on this platform is the Core i7-6950X, which has 10 physical cores (20 threads thanks to the Hyper-Threading technology), 3.0 GHz clock (3.5 maximum clock due to the Turbo Boost 3.0 technology) and supporting four-channel DDR4 memory. Let’s test this monster and check its performance.
Until the launch of “Broadwell-E” processors, the only models available for the X99 platform were the “Haswell-E”, manufactured under 22 nm technology, and the most high-end model was the Core i7-5960X (which we already tested). On the new line, the main differences are the 14 nm manufacturing process, some optimizations on the architecture, and the launch of a ten-core model (which is recognized by the operating system as a 20-core CPU thanks to the Hyper-Threading technology).
Like the “Haswell-E” processors, the “Broadwell-E” models use the X99 platform, which uses the LGA2011-v3 socket. They are compatible with quad-channel DDR4 memory.
The table below presents the new CPUs launched for this platform. All the models have TDP of 140 W and support DDR4-2400 memory and Hyper-Threading technology.

Model	Base clock	Boost clock	Cores	L3 Cache	PCI Express lanes	Price*
Core i7-6950X	3.0 GHz	3.5 GHz	10	25 MiB	40	USD 1,569
Core i7-6900K	3.2 GHz	3.7 GHz	8	20 MiB	40	USD 999
Core i7-6850K	3.6 GHz	3.8 GHz	6	15 MiB	40	USD 587
Core i7-6800K	3.4 GHz	3.6 GHz	6	15 MiB	28	USD 412

* Price suggested by Intel on the launch, for 1000 unit.

The Core i7-6950X is sold without a cooler, so you need to buy a compatible cooler (or liquid cooling system) separately. Figure 1 unveils the Core i7-6950X CPU.

Figure 1: the Core i7-6950X processor

Figure 2 shows the Core i7-6950X at the side of the Core i7-5960X. Notice that the edges of the heatspreader are different, even using the same socket.

Figure 2: the Core i7-6950X (left) and the Core i7-5960X (right)

To have an idea of the performance of the Core i7-6950X, we ran some tests comparing it to the Core i7-5960X. Unfortunately, AMD doesn’t offer a CPU that could be considered a competitor to the Core i7-6950X, since their most expensive CPU, the FX-9590, costs eight times less. And even the Core i7-6700K, the most high-end CPU for the LGA1151 platform, costs five times less.

Figure 3: underside of the Core i7-6950X (left) and of the Core i7-5960X (right)

One detail we can notice is that the substrate (fiberglass base where the CPU die is mounted) of the Core i7-6950X is thinner than the Core i7-5960X’s.

Figure 4: Core i7-6950X (left) and the Core i7-5960X (right)

Let’s compare the main specs of the reviewed CPUs in the next page.