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Intel Pentium G4600T

Intel Pentium G4600T: Budget Processor for Office and Multimedia in 2025

April 2025

Even though the Intel Pentium G4600T processor was released back in 2017, it remains popular in budget builds. In this article, we will analyze who this chip is suitable for, what it is capable of in 2025, and how to build a reliable system based on it.

1. Key Specifications: Architecture, Performance, and Features

Kaby Lake Architecture and 14nm Process Technology

The Pentium G4600T is based on the Kaby Lake architecture (7th generation Intel). This is the last lineup of Intel processors before the switch to a 10nm process. Despite its age, the 14nm technology ensures stable operation and low power consumption (TDP of just 35W).

Key Parameters:

- 2 cores / 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading.

- Base frequency: 3.0 GHz (no turbo boost).

- L3 cache: 3 MB — sufficient for basic tasks.

- Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics 630 (base frequency 350 MHz, maximum — 1.0 GHz).

Performance in 2025:

- Geekbench 6: 658 (single-core), 1369 (multi-core).

- For comparison: the modern budget processor Intel Celeron G6900 (2023) scores around 1200/2400 points.

Highlights:

- Support for virtualization (VT-x, VT-d).

- Power-saving technologies (SpeedStep, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep).

2. Compatible Motherboards: Sockets and Chipsets

LGA 1151 Socket

The processor uses the LGA 1151 socket (version v2, for Kaby Lake). Suitable chipsets include:

- H110, B250, H270, Q270 — budget options.

- Z270 — for overclocking (though the G4600T itself does not support overclocking).

2025 Selection Recommendations:

- New motherboards with these chipsets are no longer manufactured, but they can be found in stock or second-hand. Prices range from $40 (H110) to $90 (Z270).

- Examples of models: ASUS Prime B250M-A, Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H.

Important:

- Update the motherboard BIOS before installing the processor (if the board was released before 2017).

3. Supported Memory: DDR4 and Dual Channel

The Pentium G4600T works with DDR4-2133/2400 MHz (official support).

Recommendations:

- Use dual-channel configuration (2×8 GB) for improved performance.

- Maximum capacity: 64 GB, but 8–16 GB is sufficient for office tasks.

Why not DDR5?

The processor does not support DDR5 — this is its main drawback in 2025. However, for basic tasks, DDR4-2400 is adequate.

4. Power Supply: Minimum Watts, Maximum Reliability

With a TDP of 35W, even a low-powered PSU will suffice:

- Recommended PSU: 300–400W (for example, Corsair CV450, $45).

- Quality is more important than power: look for an 80 Plus Bronze certification.

Tip:

If you plan to upgrade (for example, adding a discrete graphics card), choose a PSU of 500W.

5. Pros and Cons of the Pentium G4600T

Pros:

- Energy Efficiency: ideal for compact PCs (HTPC, office systems).

- Low Price: a new processor costs around $60–70 (in stock).

- Support for Hyper-Threading: 4 threads improve multitasking.

Cons:

- Weak Cores: 2 physical cores struggle with modern games and heavy applications.

- Outdated Architecture: competitors in 2025 offer more cores and DDR5.

6. Use Cases: Where the G4600T is Still Relevant

Office Tasks

- Working with documents, browsers, video chats.

- Example: a build based on G4600T + 8 GB DDR4 + 256 GB SSD — ideal for accounting.

Multimedia

- Watching videos in 4K (with hardware decoding support).

- Media center on OS Kodi or Plex.

Light Gaming

- Integrated HD 630 graphics can handle older projects (CS:GO, Dota 2) at low settings (30–40 FPS).

Not Suitable for:

- Video editing, 3D rendering, modern AAA games.

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Athlon 3000G (2020)

- Price: ~$80 (new).

- Pros: 2 cores/4 threads, Vega 3 graphics (stronger than HD 630), unlocked multiplier.

- Cons: TDP 35W, outdated AM4 platform.

Conclusion: Athlon 3000G is better for light gaming, but G4600T excels in energy efficiency.

Intel Celeron G6900 (2023)

- Price: ~$90 (new).

- Pros: 2 cores/2 threads, Alder Lake architecture, DDR5.

- Cons: more expensive, no Hyper-Threading.

Conclusion: G4600T is more advantageous for multi-threaded tasks.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

1. Case: Choose a compact Mini-ITX (e.g., Fractal Design Node 202).

2. Cooling: The stock cooler is adequate — it is almost silent.

3. Storage: Ensure SSD (e.g., Kingston A400 240 GB, $25).

4. Networking: Add a Wi-Fi adapter if the motherboard does not have one.

Example Build (Price ~$250):

- Processor: G4600T ($70).

- Motherboard: ASUS H110M-K ($50).

- RAM: 8 GB DDR4-2400 ($25).

- SSD: 240 GB ($25).

- PSU: 400W ($45).

- Case: Mini-ITX ($35).

9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the Pentium G4600T in 2025?

This processor is worth choosing if:

- You need a PC for office or study — it will handle Word, Excel, and browsers with a dozen tabs.

- Building a media center — support for 4K and silent operation make it ideal for TV use.

- Budget is limited — a system based on G4600T will cost $200–300.

Upgrade Alternatives:

Consider the Intel Core i3-12100 (4 cores/8 threads, $130) or AMD Ryzen 3 5300G (4 cores/8 threads, $120) if modern performance is needed.

Conclusion: The Pentium G4600T is a time-tested option for less demanding tasks. In 2025, it is still viable, but selecting components requires careful consideration.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2017

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.

G4600T

Code Name

Kaby Lake

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

3.00 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

3 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

35 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

92°C

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.

DDR4-2133/2400 | 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

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

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 630

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.

1.05 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

Number of Displays Supported

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

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.

3 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.

4.4

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

658

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1369

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

729

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1460

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1772

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3055

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Pentium Gold G5420

764 +16.1%

Pentium G4560

706 +7.3%

Pentium G4600T

658

Core i5-2380P

624 -5.2%

Xeon E5-2643 v2

581 -11.7%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i3-6157U

1676 +22.4%

Ryzen 3 2200U

1521 +11.1%

Pentium G4600T

1369

Xeon E3-1220

1192 -12.9%

Pentium G3440

1069 -21.9%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon E7-8893 v2

762 +4.5%

Core i5-3550S

742 +1.8%

Pentium G4600T

729

Xeon D-1540

706 -3.2%

Core i7-3520M

683 -6.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Pentium Gold G5420T

1630 +11.6%

Core i3-6100T

1534 +5.1%

Pentium G4600T

1460

Core i5-8210Y

1383 -5.3%

Core i3-3210

1310 -10.3%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i7-2700K

1822 +2.8%

Xeon E5-2695 v3

1798 +1.5%

Pentium G4600T

1772

Core i5-2550K

1750 -1.2%

Xeon D-2141I

1713 -3.3%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i5-2500S

3383 +10.7%

Core i5-6260U

3213 +5.2%

Pentium G4600T

3055

Xeon X5492

2912 -4.7%

A10-5700

2719 -11%