[Test] i7 2600K vs i7 6700K vs i3-6098P

Updated, added i3-6098P :
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3503859
 
Following up to my new i7 6700K built :
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Sharing-my-new-DAW-PC-built-m3436848.aspx
 
I've since fixed my older i7 2600K system. It may be interesting to run some tests to compare the two systems.
 
Both system runs on
- Windows 10 Pro Version 1511
- Roland Quad Capture (same single device, switch between the system)
 
i7 2600K @ 3.40GHz / MB Intel DP67BG / 16GB Ram
- ADATA 250GB SSD : Boot / Program drive
- Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB HDD : Data / Samples drive
 
i7 6700K @ 4.00GHz / MB Asrock Z170 / 16GB Ram
- Raid 0 (2x Samsung EVO 850 120GB SSD, Total 223GB usable ) : Boot / Program drive
- Raid 0 (2x Samsung EVO 850 500GB SSD, Total 931GB usable ) : Data / Samples drive
 
While the storage system is totally different, they represent the majority of the storage one might have around 2010 compared to 2016 - and the SSD Raid 0 takes it a little bit more extreme 
 
Test #1 - Playing a single track MP3 file, default, no effect.
- To get the lowest latency with Roland Quad Capture without pops and cracks
- To measure Windows 10 Task Manager CPU and Disk utilization (for Data / Samples disk access - where the Project tracks are stored), reading the meter at random, after a few bars of playback.
 
Both 2600K and 6700K settled for the same 6.5 msec roundtrip latency, which is the 2nd lowest setting for the Quad Capture.
 
- Sonar ASIO Reported Latencies
Input : 4.4 msec, 195 samples
Output : 2.1 msec, 92 samples
Total Roundtrip : 6.5 msec, 287 samples
 
At the lowest 5.1 msec setting, the 2600K pops/cracks a little bit more than the 6700K.
 
Windwos 10 Task Manager
 
                          2600K                    6700K
CPU utilization           2% to 3%                 2% to 3%                 
                          speed 2.31 - 2.37 GHz    speed 0.76 - 3.88 GHz
                                                   * mainly on low speed
 
Disk utilization          0%                       0%
 
(cont..)

I use RAID 1, which also minimum burden on the CPU, data are read as fast as in RAID 0 + data is protected against disk failure.

Yes :) it's a compact Cooler Master cube case. It's meant for on site / gig use and the content is almost duplicated by the other 2600K system.
 
More tests : Each track is set with 2 Pro Channel modules.
a) PC Compressor, input set to max, output set to 10 o'clock
b) PC EQ set with high pass and low pass turned on
 
Since the Disk utilization results are the same for 100 tracks in all tests below (up to 99% for 2600K single HDD / up to 10% for 6700K 2x SSD Raid 0) only CPU utilization shall be printed.
 
Test #6 : 100 similar MP3 tracks with 30 tracks set with two PC modules (as described above)
 
            2600K                    6700K
CPU / Stop  15%                      11% to 12%                 
            speed 2.9x GHz           speed 1.5x GHz
 
CPU / Play  25% - 26%                21% to 24%
            speed 3.1x GHz           speed 2.8x - 3.0x GHz
 
Test #7 : 100 similar MP3 tracks with 50 tracks set with two PC modules
 
            2600K                    6700K
CPU / Stop  23%                      18% to 20%
            speed 3.1x GHz           speed 1.8x GHz
 
CPU / Play  33% - 34%                27% to 34%
            speed 3.2x GHz           speed 2.7x - 3.9x GHz
 
Test #8 : 100 similar MP3 tracks with 80 tracks set with two PC modules
 
            2600K                    6700K
CPU / Stop  35%                      33% to 34%
            speed 3.2x GHz           speed 3.9x GHz
 
CPU / Play  45% - 48%                39% to 40%
            speed 3.2x GHz           speed 3.9x GHz
 
Test #9 : 100 similar MP3 tracks with all (100) tracks set with two PC modules
 
            2600K                    6700K
CPU / Stop  43%                      39% to 40%
            speed 3.2x GHz           speed 3.9x GHz
 
CPU / Play  54% - 56%                38% to 45%
            speed 3.3x GHz           speed 3.9x GHz
 
 

Recently I setup a budget PC for a friend with an Intel i3-6098P CPU (Newegg 125/=). I though it would be interesting to compare it with my previous tests on i7 2600K and 6700K.
 
This budget PC uses a single SSD - it will be interesting to compare HDD vs Raid 0 (2x SSD) vs SSD.
2600K - Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB HDD : Data / Samples drive
6700K - Raid 0 (2x Samsung EVO 850 500GB SSD, Total 931GB usable ) : Data / Samples drive
i3-6098P - ADATA SP550 Kingston SSDNow  uv400 (480GB)
 
A common audio interface was used, the Roland Quad Capture / Windows 10. It's also interesting to note that, the Quad Capture driver installation is fully automatic ! All I need to do is plug in the Quad Capture USB and after a short while, the driver is installed (the PC is online).
 
All tests are similar to the ones I've done previously : Running up to 100 tracks of mp3 (same tune) - first without any Pro Channel processing, then repeat tests with up to (edited) 200 Pro Channel (each track had 2 PC turned on).
 
It was an easy test as I've already saved various tests as separate projects. Results on next post.

Test #4 - Playing 50 similar MP3 tracks at once, default, no effect.

                2600K                    6700K                    i3-6098P
CPU utilization 8% to 9%                 6% to 7%                 9% to 11%
                speed 2.44 - 2.51 GHz    speed 0.76 - 3.80 GHz    speed 0.83 - 1.37 GHz
Disk utilization up to 60%               up to 6%                 up to 10%
 
Test #5 - Playing 100 similar MP3 tracks at once, default, no effect.

                2600K                    6700K                    i3-6098P
CPU utilization 12% to 13%               11% to 15%               15% to 17%
                speed 2.78 - 2.85 GHz    speed 1.48 - 2.56 GHz    speed 1.76 - 2.34 GHz
Disk utilization up to 99%               up to 10%                up to 19%
 
Note in my previous test (2600K vs 6700K)
Since the Disk utilization results are the same for 100 tracks in all tests below (up to 99% for 2600K single HDD / up to 10% for 6700K 2x SSD Raid 0) only CPU utilization shall be printed.

Test #8 : 100 similar MP3 tracks with 80 tracks set with two PC modules
 
!! Immediately at the start of the test, the i3-6098P audio engine stopped unexpectedly.
i3-6098P set to next buffer size of the Quad Capture
Input : 6.2 msec, 275 samples
Output : 5.8 msec, 257 samples
Total Roundtrip : 12.1 msec, 532 samples

           2600K               6700K               i3-6098P
CPU / Stop 35%                 33% to 34%          30%
           speed 3.2x GHz      speed 3.9x GHz      speed 3.56 GHz

CPU / Play 45% - 48%           39% to 40%          44% to 46%
           speed 3.2x GHz      speed 3.9x GHz      speed 3.49 GHz
 
Test #9 : 100 similar MP3 tracks with all (100) tracks set with two PC modules
 
!! Immediately at the start of the test, the i3-6098P audio engine stopped unexpectedly.
 
i3-6098P set to next buffer size of the Quad Capture
Input : 9.1 msec, 403 samples
Output : 11.6 msec, 511 samples
Total Roundtrip : 20.7 msec, 914 samples
- this setting also had the audio engine stopped unexpectedly
i3-6098P set to next buffer size of the Quad Capture
Input : 12.0 msec, 531 samples
Output : 17.3 msec, 764 samples
Total Roundtrip : 29.4 msec, 1295 samples

           2600K               6700K               i3-6098P
CPU / Stop 43%                 39% to 40%          26%
           speed 3.2x GHz      speed 3.9x GHz      speed 3.56 GHz

CPU / Play 54% - 56%           38% to 45%          35% to 38%
           speed 3.3x GHz      speed 3.9x GHz      speed 3.56 GHz
 
The end of test.

So unless you have a large (around 100) track count it looks like the i3 is coping OK.  That has been my observation as well.  My track count is low and my instrument count is very low (Typically only 1-5).  That is why I can still use my OLD i3!