Retailer photo of Intel Core i7-6850K OEM/Tray. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i7-6850K
The current Intel Core i7-6850K price from retailers, its key specifications, and how it performs for each job.
Trade-offs: you want strong value with Balanced priorities specifically
- Cores / threads
- 6C / 12T
- Boost clock
- 3800 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 2011-3
- TDP
- 252 W
Move a slider and the page re-scores this product against the same market frame.
What does it cost today, and is that a good price?
Market confidence: LowAt $56 the Intel Core i7-6850K is priced in line with its $56 representative market level. Only one retailer currently backs that price, so the level is a single data point rather than a market.
Limited market: only one retailer currently has a verified offer, so treat this price as a single data point.
Prices & availability
Intel Core i7-6850K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
1 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i7-6850K OEM/Tray | Newegg | New | $56 | 37 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-6850KMultiple variants available | Amazon Affiliate | Varies | Find on Amazon | Not tracked | No price snapshot | Find on Amazon → |
Prices are dated snapshots, not live quotes — confirm the final price at the store. New, refurbished and used offers are listed separately; used offers carry warranty and seller risk.
Performance and where it ranks
Two different questions, side by side. Performance compares what the hardware can do; Value compares what that capability costs at today’s price. A product can rank high on one and low on the other — that gap is the point.
Performance Balanced
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#193 of 264 graded processors
- #190 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 7
- #191 IntelIntel Core i5-10400F 7
- #192 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 7
- #193 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 7
- #194 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2643 v4 7
- #195 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 6
- #196 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 6
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#129 of 264 currently priced processors
- #126 IntelIntel Core i3-9100 38
- #127 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G7400 38
- #128 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 4600G 38
- #129 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 37
- #130 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 37
- #131 IntelIntel Core i5-10600 37
- #132 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 37
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#216 of 264 graded processors
- #213 IntelIntel Core i7-7700 52
- #214 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 52
- #215 IntelIntel Core i3-10100F 52
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 52
- #217 IntelIntel Core i3-10100 52
- #218 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 52
- #219 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 52
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#215 of 264 currently priced processors
- #212 IntelIntel Core i5-9500F 12
- #213 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 12
- #214 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 12
- #215 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 12
- #216 IntelIntel Core i7-8086K 12
- #217 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 12
- #218 IntelIntel Core i3-10300 12
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#193 of 264 graded processors
- #190 IntelIntel Core i3-12100 7
- #191 IntelIntel Core i5-10400F 7
- #192 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 7
- #193 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 7
- #194 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2643 v4 7
- #195 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 4100 6
- #196 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 6
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#207 of 264 currently priced processors
- #204 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G7400 2
- #205 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 3200G 1
- #206 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600 1
- #207 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 1
- #208 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 3600XT 1
- #209 IntelIntel Core i7-7740X 1
- #210 IntelIntel Core i7-6800K 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#239 of 264 graded processors
- #236 IntelIntel Core i3-8350K 9
- #237 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 9
- #238 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1225 V5 9
- #239 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 8
- #240 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2643 v4 8
- #241 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1220 V5 8
- #242 IntelIntel Core i5-4690 8
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#248 of 264 currently priced processors
- #245 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 4
- #246 IntelIntel Xeon E3-1245 V3 4
- #247 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 4
- #248 IntelIntel Core i7-6850K 4
- #249 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2650 4
- #250 IntelIntel Core i9-10900X 4
- #251 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 4
These ladders follow the preset scenario shown above. Your own weights re-score this product, not the whole field.
What it is good for
| Scenario | this productCapability grade · Value at current price | Higher capability | Higher Value with current priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (all-round)Weighted all-round view | GradeNo grade Value37 | — | — |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value12 | — | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-8100 C 21 -3% capability · -44% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | — | — |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value4 | Higher capability Higher capability · Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 2400G F 20 +115% capability · -3% price | |
Balanced has no letter: it is a weighting preset, not a capability rubric. A grade answers “how well does this handle that job?” — price is never part of it. Relative Value puts the current market price back in.
Compare these grades with the full tier list
Browse shortlists for different uses
Trade-offs
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded C for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
- Nothing in this budget scores better with Balanced prioritiesno graded product within the 10% budget envelope around $56 reaches a higher Relative Value with Balanced priorities
Consider other options if
- You want strong value with Balanced priorities specificallyat today's market no realistic price for this model reaches strong value with Balanced priorities — the calculation only gets there near $19, against a cheapest tracked $56
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Consider other options if
- Gaming is what you actually need it forit grades C there; AMD Ryzen 5 2400G grades C at $55
- You want strong value for Gaming specificallycompeting products deliver so much more for Gaming per dollar that no price this model realistically trades at reaches the strong-value mark for this job
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Core i3-8100 holds Relative Value 21 against its 12 for Gaming, at $31
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Productivity is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Productivity, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 5 2400G grades F at $55
For the selected scenario this is not a strong fit — the grade above is the reason, and the models below suit it better.
Works well if
- Performance per Watt is not actually your main job — Gaming isit grades F for Performance per Watt, but C for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 5 2400G grades F at $55
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelAMD Ryzen 5 2400G holds Relative Value 20 against its 4 for Performance per Watt, at $55
Models that suit Performance per Watt better, at this budget
Every line states the fact it was derived from, for the scenario selected above. Thresholds are calculated points on our value curve — information about where the maths turns, not instructions about what to pay.
Similar options to the Intel Core i7-6850K
Chosen for Balanced
Chosen for Gaming
Chosen for Productivity
Chosen for Performance per Watt
Alternatives stay near this product’s price range. Step-up options may exceed the standard budget envelope when the capability gain is meaningful.
More head-to-head comparisons in this category
Upgrade planner
Judge the change in the active scenario, then make the cash gap explicit.
Using page scenarioWhat are you upgrading from? These are the axes we compare on, and where this product stands in the current market.
We rank upgrades by out-of-pocket cost — the new price minus what yours is worth — not by sticker price.
Only candidates that clear the configured meaningful-upgrade gate will be shown; roles are omitted rather than filled.
Capability differences are expressed as tiers and index points, not as benchmark percentages we did not measure.
Specifications and compatibility
What this product is, and what to check before it goes into your build.
Core / Performance
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- Performance cores
- 6
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3600 MHz
- Boost clock
- 3800 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 252 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 252 W
- Socket
- LGA 2011-3
- Integrated graphics
- No
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 5 MB
- L3 cache
- 15 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8067102056100
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17
What to check in your build
LGA 2011-3 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 2011-3. A different socket does not fit — this is a physical constraint, not a preference.
Board BIOS must list this model
A matching socket is necessary but not sufficient — check the vendor CPU support list.
Unknown
Cooler rated for 252 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 252 W on socket LGA 2011-3.
Discrete GPU required
Found an error? Report this specification Email the field, corrected value and an optional source.
Compatibility guidance is practical help, not a score. Missing data is shown as unknown, never invented.
Summary
Intel Core i7-6850K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #193 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 320. The main limitation appears when Productivity becomes the priority, where it grades F.
Intel Core i7-6850K offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #216 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 320. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-6850K offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #193 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 320. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-6850K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #239 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 320. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
FAQ
Why does Relative Value change when I choose another scenario?
Each scenario changes the weights applied to capability, price and the other published factors. The hardware facts stay fixed, but the value question changes, so its score and rank can change too.
Why can Amazon appear without a tracked price?
Amazon is shown as a discovery link when we do not have a permitted verified price snapshot. It is excluded from price comparisons, rankings and Relative Value until a compliant tracked price exists.
Useful links & sources
offer frame 2026-10-10–2026-10-17 · formula cpu-value-v1.4 · facts facts-2026-10-17 · Relative Value is an estimate from our current dataset, the selected weights and dated market prices — not an official product rating and not a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology We are not a shop. Affiliate links may earn us a commission; they never change the calculations or the ranking.