In the world of computer hardware, the CPU is undoubtedly the core of cores. CPUs with the LGA 1151 socket dominated the mainstream market for a long time. They accommodated multiple generations of Intel processors, offering users a wide range of choices. This article provides a detailed list of LGA 1151 CPUs, explores their generational differences, and presents a performance ladder chart to help you better understand these processors.
LGA (Land Grid Array) refers to land grid array packaging, and 1151 means there are 1151 contacts on the socket. Intel launched the LGA 1151 socket in 2015. With excellent compatibility, it supports multiple generations of processors including Skylake (6th gen), Kaby Lake (7th gen), Coffee Lake (8th gen), and Coffee Lake Refresh (enhanced 8th gen). It became a popular choice for PC enthusiasts and professionals to build computers of different performance levels, meeting diverse needs from affordable home PCs to high-performance gaming rigs.
High-end Models:
Intel Core i7-6700K: Unlocked multiplier, 4 cores 8 threads, 4.0GHz base frequency, up to 4.2GHz with Turbo Boost, 8MB L3 cache. Excels in multitasking and large games, favored by performance seekers.
Intel Core i7-6700: Non-overclockable, 3.4GHz base frequency, up to 4.0GHz Turbo, balanced in performance and stability, suitable for users needing high performance without extreme overclocking.
Mid-to-high End Models:
Intel Core i5-6600K: Unlocked, 4 cores 4 threads, 3.5GHz base, 3.9GHz Turbo, handles mainstream games and office multitasking easily.
Intel Core i5-6600: Non-overclockable, 3.3GHz base, 3.6GHz Turbo, cost-effective for daily use.
Intel Core i5-6500: 3.2GHz base, 3.6GHz Turbo, stable for office and home entertainment.
Intel Core i5-6400: 2.7GHz base, 3.3GHz Turbo, low power consumption, for basic needs.
Mid-to-low End Models:
Intel Core i3-6320: 2 cores 4 threads, 3.9GHz, good single-core performance for office and light entertainment.
Intel Core i3-6300: 3.8GHz, affordable for budget office/entry-level entertainment PCs.
Intel Core i3-6100: 3.7GHz, stable in mid-to-low end, widely used in daily office and light gaming.
Low-end Models:
Intel Pentium G4400: 2 cores 2 threads, 3.3GHz, 3MB L3 cache, for basic office and home use.
Intel Pentium G4500: 3.5GHz, slightly better than G4400, competitive in low-end market.
Intel Pentium G4520: 3.8GHz, outstanding in its price range for light tasks.
Intel Celeron G3900: 2 cores 2 threads, 2.8GHz, cheap for simple daily operations.
Intel Celeron G3920: 2.9GHz, slightly better than G3900, meets basic needs.
High-end Models:
Intel Core i7-7700K: 4 cores 8 threads, unlocked, 4.2GHz base, 4.5GHz Turbo, stronger than 6th gen, excellent in gaming and video editing.
Intel Core i7-7700: Non-overclockable, 3.6GHz base, 4.2GHz Turbo, maintains i7's multi-thread 优势.
Mid-to-high End Models:
Intel Core i5-7600K: 4 cores 4 threads, unlocked, 3.8GHz base, 4.2GHz Turbo, improved frequency for smooth gaming/multitasking.
Intel Core i5-7600: 3.5GHz base, 4.0GHz Turbo, balanced in performance and price.
Intel Core i5-7500: 3.4GHz base, 3.8GHz Turbo, popular for stable office/gaming performance.
Intel Core i5-7400: 3.0GHz base, 3.5GHz Turbo, low power for long-time office/home use.
Mid-to-low End Models:
Intel Core i3-7350K: 2 cores 4 threads, unlocked, 4.2GHz, strong single-core for games/software relying on it.
Low-end Models:
Intel Pentium G4560: 2 cores 4 threads, 3.5GHz, better multitasking with hyper-threading for basic needs.
High-end Models:
Intel Core i7-8700K: 6 cores 12 threads, unlocked, 3.7GHz base, 4.7GHz Turbo, huge performance leap for video rendering and multi-game running.
Intel Core i7-8700: Non-overclockable, 3.2GHz base, 4.6GHz Turbo, powerful for professionals and gamers.
Mid-to-high End Models:
Intel Core i5-8600K: 6 cores 6 threads, unlocked, 3.6GHz base, 4.3GHz Turbo, great for gaming and multitasking.
Intel Core i5-8600: 3.1GHz base, 4.0GHz Turbo, cost-effective for mainstream gaming/office.
Intel Core i5-8500: 3.0GHz base, 3.8GHz Turbo, practical 6-core for multitasking and gaming.
Mid-to-low End Models:
Intel Core i3-8350K: 4 cores 4 threads, unlocked, 4.0GHz, good single/multi-core for mainstream games/office.
High-end Models:
Intel Core i9-9900K: 8 cores 16 threads, unlocked, 3.6GHz base, 5.0GHz Turbo, flagship for professional workloads and games.
Intel Core i7-9700K: 8 cores 8 threads, unlocked, 3.6GHz base, 4.9GHz Turbo, excellent in gaming with strong single-core.
Mid-to-high End Models:
Intel Core i5-9600K: 6 cores 6 threads, unlocked, 3.7GHz base, 4.6GHz Turbo, improved frequency for better gaming/multitasking.
Intel Core i5-9400F: 6 cores 6 threads, no iGPU, 2.9GHz base, 4.1GHz Turbo, cheap for users with discrete GPU.
Mid-to-low End Models:
Intel Core i3-9100F: 4 cores 4 threads, no iGPU, 3.6GHz base, 4.2GHz Turbo, affordable with discrete GPU for gaming/office.
From 6th to 8th gen (including Coffee Lake Refresh), core and thread counts increased. High-end i7s went from 4 cores 8 threads (6th gen) to 6 cores 12 threads (i7-8700K) and 8 cores 16 threads (i9-9900K), boosting multi-tasking and professional software performance, reducing time in video rendering and 3D modeling.
Base and Turbo frequencies rose with generations. High-end models like i7-6700K (4.0GHz base, 4.2GHz Turbo) → i7-7700K (4.2GHz base, 4.5GHz Turbo) → i7-8700K (3.7GHz base, 4.7GHz Turbo, adjusted for more cores) enhanced single-core performance for games and software relying on it.
Intel used 14nm for 6th gen Skylake, optimized it for 7th gen Kaby Lake, and improved 14nm for 8th gen Coffee Lake, balancing power, heat, stability, and reliability.
iGPUs improved across generations: 6th gen had HD 530, 7th gen HD 630 with better graphics, enabling light gaming and graphics for users without discrete GPUs.
To show performance differences intuitively (for reference; actual performance varies by test environment/software):
Performance Level | CPU Models |
Top Performance | Intel Core i9-9900KIntel Core i7-9700K |
High Performance | Intel Core i7-8700KIntel Core i7-7700KIntel Core i7-6700K |
Mid-to-high Performance | Intel Core i5-9600KIntel Core i5-8600KIntel Core i5-7600KIntel Core i5-6600K |
Mainstream Performance | Intel Core i5-9400FIntel Core i5-8500Intel Core i5-7500Intel Core i5-6500 |
Mid-to-low Performance | Intel Core i3-9100FIntel Core i3-8350KIntel Core i3-7350KIntel Core i3-6320 |
Low Performance | Intel Pentium G4560Intel Pentium G4520Intel Celeron G3920 |
The chart clarifies performance gaps. Choose based on needs and budget: top/high performance for gamers/designers; mainstream/mid-to-low for daily office/light entertainment to save cost.
LGA 1151 CPUs, covering multiple generations and performance levels, met diverse user needs in hardware history. Understanding their list, generational differences, and performance ladder helps make wise choices for building or upgrading systems, ensuring better experience and stronger performance.
