Retailer photo of Intel Core i5-6600. View this offer in Where to buy
Intel · CPU
Intel Core i5-6600
The current Intel Core i5-6600 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
- 4C / 4T
- Boost clock
- 3900 MHz
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- TDP
- 154 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 CAD 80 the Intel Core i5-6600 is priced in line with its CAD 80 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 i5-6600: 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 i5-6600 | Newegg | New | CAD 80 | 30 | 2026-10-16 | View offer → |
| Intel Core i5-6600Multiple 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.
#207 of 220 graded processors
- #204 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 5
- #205 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 4
- #206 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #207 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #208 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #209 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 4
- #210 IntelIntel Core i5-4690 4
Value Balanced
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#129 of 220 currently priced processors
- #126 IntelIntel Core i9-9900KF 31
- #127 IntelIntel Core i7-10700F 31
- #128 IntelIntel Core i7-10700 30
- #129 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 30
- #130 IntelIntel Core i9-10900KF 30
- #131 IntelIntel Core i5-10600 30
- #132 IntelIntel Core i9-11900K 30
Performance Gaming
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#201 of 220 graded processors
- #198 IntelIntel Core i5-8600T 51
- #199 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 51
- #200 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 51
- #201 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 51
- #202 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 51
- #203 IntelIntel Xeon E3-1245 V3 50
- #204 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 50
Value Gaming
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#178 of 220 currently priced processors
- #175 IntelIntel Core i5-11600KF 13
- #176 IntelIntel Core i3-9350KF 13
- #177 IntelIntel Core i9-7900X 13
- #178 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 13
- #179 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 13
- #180 IntelIntel Core i7-7700K 12
- #181 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 12
Performance Productivity
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#207 of 220 graded processors
- #204 IntelIntel Core i7-4820K 5
- #205 IntelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 4
- #206 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 4
- #207 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 4
- #208 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 4
- #209 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 4
- #210 IntelIntel Core i5-4690 4
Value Productivity
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#206 of 220 currently priced processors
- #203 IntelIntel Pentium Gold G6400 1
- #204 IntelIntel Core i7-4790 1
- #205 IntelIntel Core i3-9300 1
- #206 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 1
- #207 IntelIntel Core i5-7400 1
- #208 IntelIntel Core i5-7640X 1
- #209 IntelIntel Core i5-4690K 1
Performance Performance per Watt
How much it can do. Price plays no part in this ranking.
#212 of 220 graded processors
- #209 IntelIntel Core i7-5820K 9
- #210 IntelIntel Core i7 Extreme 4960X 9
- #211 IntelIntel Core i3-8100 9
- #212 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 9
- #213 IntelIntel Core i5-7500 9
- #214 AMDAMD A9700 9
- #215 IntelIntel Core i5-7400 8
Value Performance per Watt
How much of that you get for today’s price.
#201 of 220 currently priced processors
- #198 IntelIntel Core i9-10900K 5
- #199 IntelIntel Core i5-4690 5
- #200 IntelIntel Core i7-7800X 5
- #201 IntelIntel Core i5-6600 5
- #202 IntelIntel Core i9-7920X 5
- #203 IntelIntel Core i7-7820X 4
- #204 IntelIntel Core i9-7940X 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 Value30 | — | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 46 +2% capability · -67% price |
| GamingScenario capability | GradeC Value13 | — | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Core i3-8100 C 19 -1% capability · -22% price |
| ProductivityScenario capability | GradeF Value1 | — | — |
| Performance per WattScenario capability | GradeF Value5 | Higher capability Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 F 6 +36% capability · -67% price | Higher Value with current priorities Intel Pentium Gold G6400 F 17 +18% capability · +9% 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
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 CAD 20, against a cheapest tracked CAD 80
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 holds Relative Value 46 against its 30 with Balanced priorities, at CAD 27
- 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; Intel Pentium Gold G6400 grades C at CAD 87
- 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 19 against its 13 for Gaming, at CAD 62
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; Intel Pentium Gold G6400 grades F at CAD 87
- Value for money matters more to you than this exact modelIntel Xeon E5 2620 V2 holds Relative Value 1 against its 1 for Productivity, at CAD 27
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; Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 grades F at CAD 27
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 i5-6600
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
- 4
- Threads
- 4
- Performance cores
- 4
- Efficiency cores
- 0
- Base clock
- 3300 MHz
- Boost clock
- 3900 MHz
Power / Interface
- TDP
- 154 W
- Maximum turbo power
- 154 W
- Socket
- LGA 1151
- Maximum memory
- 64 GB
- Integrated graphics
- Intel HD Graphics 530
- Process node
- 14 nm
Show all specifications
Core / Performance
- L2 cache
- 1 MB
- L3 cache
- 6 MB
- Unlocked multiplier
- No
Warranty & release
- Warranty
- 3 years
- Release year
- 2014
- Manufacturer part number
- CM8066201920401
Hover any value to see where it came from: a manufacturer specification, or a figure The Comparator calculated.
Sources: Comparator offer frame 2026-10-11–2026-10-17
What to check in your build
LGA 1151 required
Your motherboard must use socket LGA 1151. 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 154 W or more
No cooler is included. Your cooler must be rated for at least 154 W on socket LGA 1151.
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 i5-6600 offers a balanced view across an all-round mix of priorities. It ranks #207 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 currently clears the same practical bar with stronger Relative Value.
Intel Core i5-6600 offers C-grade capability for Gaming. It ranks #201 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. The C grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-6600 offers F-grade capability for Productivity. It ranks #207 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. The F grade is the decisive limitation for this workload.
Intel Core i5-6600 offers F-grade capability for Performance per Watt. It ranks #212 by capability in the current modelled field. Its clearest measured strength is multi-thread index 171. 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 2026-10-11–2026-10-17 · 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.