Retailer photo of Intel Core i7-6900K OEM/Tray. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i7-6900K
The current Intel Core i7-6900K 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
- 8C / 16T
- Boost clock
- 3700 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: MediumAt $89 the Intel Core i7-6900K is priced 39% below its $145 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 i7-6900K: current price and offers
Compare the offers we track for this model, across variants and retailers.
2 tracked offers · 1 retailers
| Variant | Store | Condition | Price (snapshot) | Value · Balanced | Checked | Offer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i7-6900K OEM/Tray | Newegg | New | $89 | 31 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-6900K | Newegg | New | $200 | 18 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i7-6900KMultiple 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.
#173 of 264 graded processors
- #170 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 2700 9
- #171 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 9
- #172 IntelIntel Core i3-14100 9
- #173 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 9
- #174 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 8
- #175 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 8
- #176 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 8
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#161 of 264 currently priced processors
- #158 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 32
- #159 IntelIntel Core i9-9940X 32
- #160 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 31
- #161 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 31
- #162 AMDAMD Ryzen 3 3200G 31
- #163 IntelIntel Core i5-10400 31
- #164 IntelIntel Core i7-10700K 31
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#203 of 264 graded processors
- #200 IntelIntel Core i5-9500 53
- #201 IntelIntel Core i5-8600 53
- #202 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 53
- #203 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 53
- #204 IntelIntel Core i5-7600K 53
- #205 IntelIntel Core i5-9400F 53
- #206 IntelIntel Core i7-8700T 53
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#228 of 264 currently priced processors
- #225 IntelIntel Core i5-6400 12
- #226 AMDAMD Ryzen 5 2600 11
- #227 AMDAMD Ryzen 9 3950X 11
- #228 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 11
- #229 IntelIntel Core i7-10700KF 11
- #230 IntelIntel Core i9-11900 11
- #231 IntelIntel Core i5-9500 11
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#173 of 264 graded processors
- #170 AMDAMD Ryzen 7 2700 9
- #171 IntelIntel Core i3-14100F 9
- #172 IntelIntel Core i3-14100 9
- #173 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 9
- #174 IntelIntel Core i7-9700K 8
- #175 IntelIntel Core i7-9700KF 8
- #176 IntelIntel Core i5-10600K 8
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#193 of 264 currently priced processors
- #190 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 6950X 2
- #191 IntelIntel Core i7-8700 2
- #192 IntelIntel Core i5-9400 2
- #193 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 2
- #194 IntelIntel Xeon E5-2650 v4 2
- #195 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 2
- #196 IntelIntel Core i5-8600K 2
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#221 of 264 graded processors
- #218 IntelIntel Core i7-4790K 11
- #219 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V3 11
- #220 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1276 V3 11
- #221 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 10
- #222 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 5960X 10
- #223 IntelIntel Core i7-7740X 10
- #224 IntelIntel Core i3-10105F 10
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#243 of 264 currently priced processors
- #240 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 5
- #241 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1225 V5 5
- #242 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1276 V3 5
- #243 IntelIntel Core i7-6900K 5
- #244 IntelIntel Xeon E3 1240 V3 4
- #245 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 4
- #246 IntelIntel Xeon E3-1245 V3 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 Value31 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 41 +57% capability · +13% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 77 +31% capability · +6% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeB Value11 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 5 7500F A 83 +30% capability · +19% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 B 59 +11% capability · +6% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeD Value2 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3800X C 3 +57% capability · +13% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 7 3700X C 8 +53% capability · +4% price |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value5 | Higher capability AMD Ryzen 7 3700X B 45 +350% capability · +4% price | Higher Value with current priorities AMD Ryzen 5 5500 C 60 +288% capability · +6% 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 B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
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 $23, against a cheapest tracked $89
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
Works well if
- Gaming is your main prioritygraded B for Gaming on the same rubric as the tier list
Consider other options if
- 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
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades only F there
- You are buying for Gaming and want no asterisksthe rubric caps this grade: gaming index estimated from single-thread speed, cache and x3d — not a measured game benchmark for this exact chip
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 D for Productivity, but B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Productivity is what you actually need it forit grades D there; AMD Ryzen 7 3800X grades C at $100
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 B for Gaming
Consider other options if
- Performance per Watt is what you actually need it forit grades F there; AMD Ryzen 7 3700X grades B at $92
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 i7-6900K
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
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- Performance cores
- 8
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3200 MHz
- Boost clock
- 3700 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 252 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 252 W
- Socket
- LGA 2011-3
- Maximum memory
- 128 GB
- Integrated graphics
- No
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 2 MB
- L3 cache
- 20 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- Yes
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8067102056010
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 i7-6900K offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #173 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 413. Intel Core i7 Extreme 5960X currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i7-6900K offers B-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #203 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 413. Intel Core i5-8600K currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i7-6900K offers D-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #173 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 413. The D grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i7-6900K offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #221 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 413. 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.