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Intel Core i3-6320

Intel Core i3-6320: Overview and Practical Tips for Building a PC in 2025

(Relevant as of April 2025)

Key Specifications: SkyLake in Detail

The Intel Core i3-6320 processor, released in 2015, remains a niche solution for budget systems due to its energy efficiency and stable performance. Let's examine its key parameters:

- Architecture: SkyLake (6th generation Intel Core).

- Manufacturing process: 14 nm — a step forward for its time, but by 2025, the standard has become 7 nm or less.

- Cores and threads: 2 cores / 4 threads (Hyper-Threading).

- Frequency: Base — 3.9 GHz (without Turbo Boost, as the i3 line does not support it).

- Cache: L3 — 4 MB.

- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 (base frequency 350 MHz, maximum — 1150 MHz).

- TDP: 51 W — low power consumption.

- Performance: Geekbench 6 — 1298 (Single-Core), 2618 (Multi-Core).

Key Features:

- DDR4 support — relevant for budget builds even in 2025.

- Integrated HD 530 graphics — suitable for office applications and 4K video playback.

- Intel Quick Sync Video technology — accelerates video encoding/decoding.

Compatible Motherboards: What to Choose?

This processor uses the LGA 1151 socket (revision v1), which limits the choice of motherboards to older models. Main chipsets:

- H110: Budget option (price: $60–80). No USB 3.1 Gen2 support, maximum 2 RAM slots.

- B150 / H170: Optimal choice ($70–100). More SATA/USB ports, RAID support.

- Z170: Premium segment ($100–130). Allows RAM overclocking, but the i3-6320 itself is not unlocked.

Tip: In 2025, new boards for LGA 1151 are rarely produced. Look for leftovers on platforms like Amazon or specialized stores. For example, the ASUS B150M-A is a reliable option for $85.

Supported Memory: DDR4 as a Standard

The i3-6320 works with DDR4-2133 in dual-channel mode. The maximum capacity is up to 64 GB (depending on the motherboard).

Features:

- DDR5 and DDR3 are not supported.

- 8 GB (2×4 GB) is sufficient for office tasks.

- For multimedia tasks (e.g., video editing in 1080p) — 16 GB (2×8 GB).

Example: A Crucial DDR4-2133 16 GB kit (2×8 GB) costs about $45.

Power Supply: How Many Watts Do You Need?

With a TDP of 51 W, the processor is not demanding on the PSU, but it's important to consider other components:

- Integrated graphics: A PSU of 300–350 W is sufficient (e.g., EVGA 350W for $40).

- Discrete graphics card: If adding an NVIDIA GTX 1650 (TDP 75 W), choose a PSU of 450–500 W (Corsair CX450 — $55).

Important: Don’t skimp on the PSU. Cheap models can operate unstably even with low TDP.

Pros and Cons of the i3-6320 in 2025

Pros:

- Low power consumption — ideal for compact PCs and HTPCs.

- Good single-core performance — quick response in everyday tasks.

- Hyper-Threading support — better multitasking than Pentium.

Cons:

- Only 2 cores — weak multi-threaded performance (not suitable for rendering or modern gaming).

- Outdated socket — upgrading to newer processors is not possible without replacing the motherboard.

- No support for PCIe 4.0/5.0 — a limitation for modern SSDs and graphics cards.

Use Cases: Where is the Processor Relevant?

1. Office tasks: Document work, browsing (10+ tabs), Zoom conferences.

2. Multimedia: Watching 4K video (via HDMI 1.4), streaming services.

3. Light gaming: CS:GO, Dota 2 on low settings (HD 530 delivers ~30–40 FPS at 720p).

4. Home server: Its energy efficiency makes it a good candidate for NAS.

Real Experience: A user built an HTPC with i3-6320 + 8 GB RAM + 256 GB SSD. The system handles 4K HDR through Kodi, but it occasionally lags when running a browser and streaming simultaneously.

Comparison with Competitors

- AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (4 cores / 4 threads, price $60–80 used): Better in multi-threaded tasks, but requires a discrete graphics card.

- Intel Pentium Gold G6400 (2 cores / 4 threads, $80 new): More modern (2020), but similar performance.

- Raspberry Pi 5 (ARM, $80): An alternative for enthusiasts, but x86 compatibility is important for Windows.

Conclusion: The i3-6320 falls short against Ryzen in multi-threading but wins thanks to its integrated graphics.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. SSD is a must: Kingston A400 480 GB ($35) will speed up system boot times.

2. Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but for quiet operation, consider the Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 ($25).

3. Case: Mini-ITX saves space (Fractal Design Node 202 — $90).

4. Upgrade: Don’t plan for upgrades — the platform is outdated. Build it as a temporary solution.

Example Build:

- Motherboard: ASUS H110M-K — $70.

- Memory: 16 GB DDR4 — $45.

- Storage: 500 GB SSD — $40.

- PSU: EVGA 450W — $50.

- Total: ~$300 without the case.

Final Conclusion: Who is the i3-6320 Suitable For?

This processor should only be considered in two cases:

1. Budget build for an office or media center, where energy efficiency and quiet operation are essential.

2. Upgrade of an old PC while retaining the motherboard (e.g., replacing a Pentium with an i3).

Price: In 2025, a new i3-6320 can be found for $80–100, but it is often sold used for $30–50.

Alternative: If the budget allows, it’s better to go for a Ryzen 5 5500 (6 cores / 12 threads, $120) or an Intel Core i3-12100 (4 cores, $140).

The Intel Core i3-6320 may be a relic of the past, but even in 2025, it can find its place where simplicity and minimalism matter. However, for modern tasks, it's wise to consider newer platforms.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

September 2015

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

i3-6320

Code Name

SkyLake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.90 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

Yes

L3 Cache

4 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1151

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

51 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-1866/2133 | DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

34.1 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® HD Graphics 530

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.15 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

4 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.5

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

1298

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

2618

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

944

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2021

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2338

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4506

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon E-2176M

1379 +6.2%

Core i7-8650U

1348 +3.9%

Core i3-6320

1298

Xeon E3-1225

1262 -2.8%

Core i3-8100B

1219 -6.1%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2643 v2

3083 +17.8%

Core i7-10510U

2914 +11.3%

Core i3-6320

2618

Core i3-7100

2407 -8.1%

Core i7-2700K

2157 -17.6%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i7-6850K

988 +4.7%

Ryzen 5 2500X

964 +2.1%

Core i3-6320

944

Core i7-4771

928 -1.7%

EPYC 7F72

910 -3.6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i5-6400T

2340 +15.8%

Xeon E3-1260L

2162 +7%

Core i3-6320

2021

Core i5-7300U

1895 -6.2%

Xeon E5-2450L

1745 -13.7%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E3-1585 v5

2402 +2.7%

EPYC 9334

2367 +1.2%

Core i3-6320

2338

Xeon W-2170B

2304 -1.5%

Core i5-8600T

2272 -2.8%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-4765T

5112 +13.4%

Xeon E3-1225 v2

4746 +5.3%

Core i3-6320

4506

Core i5-4430S

4288 -4.8%

Celeron N5095

4095 -9.1%