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Intel Core i5-6402P

Intel Core i5-6402P: Review and Build Recommendations for 2025

Relevance of the Processor for Budget Systems and Media Centers

1. Key Specifications: Architecture, Performance, and Key Features

The Intel Core i5-6402P processor, released in 2016, is still found in budget builds due to its reliability and low power consumption. Built on the Skylake architecture (14 nm), it features 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock speed of 2.8 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 3.4 GHz.

Key Features:

- TDP 65W: Low thermal output makes cooling easier.

- Intel HD Graphics 510: Integrated graphics support 4K via HDMI 1.4 but are poorly suited for modern gaming.

- Geekbench 6 Score: 1108 (single-core) / 3017 (multi-core) — sufficient performance for office tasks and light multitasking.

Real-world Experience: In 2024, users report that the processor handles streaming video (Netflix, YouTube in 4K) and programs like Photoshop (for basic editing) well. However, using multiple browser tabs along with Discord may cause stuttering.

2. Compatible Motherboards: Sockets and Chipsets

The i5-6402P uses the LGA 1151 (v1) socket, which limits motherboard choices to older models.

Recommended Chipsets:

- H110/B150: Budget boards (e.g., ASUS H110M-K) suitable for office PCs. Price: $50–$70.

- H170/Z170: For extended capabilities (RAID support, more SATA ports). Example: MSI Z170-A Pro ($80–$100).

Important:

- Z170 chipsets theoretically allow overclocking, but the i5-6402P has a locked multiplier.

- When purchasing a new board in 2025, check Skylake compatibility — some manufacturers have ceased support.

3. Supported Memory: DDR4 and Dual-channel Mode

The processor works with DDR4-1866/2133 MHz in dual-channel mode.

Recommendations:

- Capacity: 16 GB (2x8 GB) — optimal for gaming and multitasking.

- Speed: Even slow DDR4-2133 won't be a bottleneck due to architectural limitations.

Practical Example: Installing 32 GB DDR4-2400 is possible, but the motherboard will reduce the speed to 2133 MHz.

4. Power Supply: Power Calculation

Considering the 65W TDP and the lack of support for high-performance video cards (due to PCIe 3.0 x16), a power supply rated 400–500W is sufficient.

Tips:

- For systems with a discrete GPU like the NVIDIA GTX 1650 (TDP 75W), a 450W power supply (e.g., Corsair CX450) will suffice.

- Choose units with an 80 Plus Bronze certification (85% efficiency) — priced at $45–$60.

5. Pros and Cons of Intel Core i5-6402P

Pros:

- Low power consumption and heat generation.

- Supports modern operating systems (Windows 10/11, Linux).

- Affordable price on the secondary market ($50–$80).

Cons:

- No hyper-threading — 4 threads are outdated for heavy multitasking.

- Weak integrated graphics.

- Limited upgrade options: the LGA 1151 socket is not compatible with newer CPU generations.

6. Use Cases: What is the Processor Suitable For?

- Office Tasks: Document work, video conferencing, browsing.

- Multimedia: 4K viewing, streaming, light editing software (DaVinci Resolve for 1080p videos).

- Gaming: Only with a discrete GPU. For instance, CS2 at medium settings (1080p) can deliver 60+ FPS when paired with a GTX 1050 Ti.

Limitations: Modern AAA games (Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield) will run on low settings even with a powerful GPU due to a lack of threads.

7. Comparison with Competitors

- AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (6C/12T): Better for multi-threaded tasks (rendering, streaming). Price: $100–$130 (newer equivalents — Ryzen 5 5500).

- Intel Core i5-7400 (4C/4T): Similar performance but more expensive due to Optane Memory support.

Conclusion: The i5-6402P excels in the budget segment when multi-threading isn't required.

8. Build Recommendations

- Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but for quieter operation, consider the DeepCool GAMMAXX 400 ($20).

- Storage: Use an NVMe SSD (via PCIe adapter) to speed up the system.

- Upgrade: If performance is needed, shift to the AM4/LGA 1700 platform.

9. Final Conclusion: Who is the i5-6402P Suitable For?

This processor is a choice for:

- Budget PCs: Builds costing $300–$400 (with entry-level GPU).

- Office Workstations: Reliability and low operating costs.

- Media Centers: Connecting to TVs for streaming video.

Price in 2025: New processors are rarely available, but on the secondary market, the cost is $50–$80.

Alternative for New Builds: Consider the Intel Core i3-12100F ($110) or AMD Ryzen 5 5600G ($130) — they offer better price-to-performance ratios.

If you are building a PC for basic tasks and want to save money, the i5-6402P remains a viable option. However, for future upgrades, it's better to choose a modern platform.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

October 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.

i5-6402P

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

2.80 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency

Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.

3.40 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Frequency

3.40 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.

2.0

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.

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

65 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.

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 510

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.

950 MHz

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.

6 MB

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

1108

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

3017

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

875

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

2683

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2033

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

5447

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i3-8145U

1177 +6.2%

Core i3-8300T

1149 +3.7%

Core i5-6402P

1108

Core i7-4610M

1075 -3%

Core i3-4130

1027 -7.3%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-7500

3462 +14.7%

Core i5-7400

3214 +6.5%

Core i5-6402P

3017

Core i3-7350K

2815 -6.7%

Core i7-3770K

2521 -16.4%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i5-8350U

906 +3.5%

Xeon E3-1285L v3

890 +1.7%

Core i5-6402P

875

Core i7-7700HQ

859 -1.8%

Core i7-5557U

841 -3.9%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i7-8550U

2960 +10.3%

Xeon Platinum 8562Y+

2793 +4.1%

Core i5-6402P

2683

Xeon L5630

2555 -4.8%

Ryzen 3 2200GE

2408 -10.2%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2643 v3

2085 +2.6%

Xeon E5-2687W v2

2055 +1.1%

Core i5-6402P

2033

Xeon E3-1225 v3

2002 -1.5%

Core i7-4930K

1974 -2.9%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Ryzen Embedded R2314

6031 +10.7%

Core i7-3740QM

5707 +4.8%

Core i5-6402P

5447

Core i7-3630QM

5122 -6%

Core i7-2960XM

4760 -12.6%