Home / Intel Pentium / Intel Pentium Gold G6500T: Performance and Specs

Intel Pentium Gold G6500T

Intel Pentium Gold G6500T: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

Updated: April 2025

Introduction

In an era of multi-core processors and neural networks, even budget chips remain in demand. The Intel Pentium Gold G6500T, released in 2020, is still available for purchase thanks to its low cost (around $50–60) and energy efficiency. Let's explore who this CPU is suitable for in 2025 and what compromises may need to be made.

1. Key Specifications

Architecture and Process Technology

The processor is built on the Comet Lake architecture (10th generation Intel Core) with a 14 nm manufacturing process. This is an outdated technology, but it is sufficient for simple tasks.

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

- Base Frequency: 3.5 GHz; no turbo boost.

- Cache: 4 MB L3.

- TDP: 35 W — ideal for compact systems.

Key Features:

- Intel UHD Graphics 630 — integrated graphics supporting 4K@60 Hz (HDMI/DisplayPort).

- Intel Quick Sync Video support — accelerates video encoding.

- Energy Efficiency — suitable for passive cooling.

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

- Socket: LGA 1200.

- Chipsets: H410, B460, H470, Z490 (for Comet Lake).

Selection Recommendations:

- Budget Option: H410 ($50–70) — suitable for office PCs.

- Best Choice: B460 ($70–90) — supports USB 3.2 Gen 2, more SATA ports.

- Important: Avoid 500-series chipsets (e.g., B560) as they are incompatible with Comet Lake.

Practical Example: The ASRock B460M-HDV board at $80 provides stable operation with DDR4-2666 and has 4 memory slots.

3. Supported Memory Types

- Type: DDR4 (DDR5 and LPDDR4 are not supported).

- Maximum Frequency: 2666 MHz (limited by H410/B460 chipsets).

- Modes: Dual-channel (installation of two modules is recommended).

Recommended Amount:

- Basic Tasks: 8 GB (2x4 GB).

- Multimedia: 16 GB (2x8 GB) — for browsing and streaming video.

Tip: Choose memory with low timings (CL16) for a small performance boost.

4. Recommended Power Supplies

- Power: Even with a discrete graphics card (e.g., GTX 1650), a 400 W PSU will suffice.

- For systems without a graphics card: 250–300 W is sufficient.

Examples:

- Budget Option: EVGA 400 W1 ($35) — 80+ White certification.

- Reliable Choice: Corsair CX450 ($55) — 80+ Bronze, semi-modular design.

Important: Don’t skimp on the PSU — cheap models can damage components.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Price: One of the most affordable processors in 2025.

- Energy Efficiency: Suitable for mini-PCs and passive cooling systems.

- Integrated Graphics: UHD 630 handles 4K video and light gaming (e.g., Minecraft on low settings).

Cons:

- 2 Cores: Multitasking is limited — running a browser with 20 tabs and background tasks may cause lag.

- Outdated Architecture: Lags behind modern AMD APUs in performance per watt.

- No PCIe 4.0 support — relevant only for high-speed NVMe drives.

6. Use Scenarios

Office Tasks

- Document work, video conferencing, email.

- Example: A system based on G6500T, 8 GB DDR4, and a 256 GB SSD — ideal for remote work.

Multimedia

- Watching 4K video, streaming (Netflix, YouTube).

- Limitation: No hardware support for AV1 — streaming services in 2025 may require hardware upgrades.

Light Gaming

- Intel UHD 630: CS:GO at 720p (30–40 FPS), Dota 2 on low settings.

- Tip: Add a GTX 1650 ($120) graphics card for Full HD gaming.

Home Server

- Low power consumption allows the CPU to be used in a NAS or media center (e.g., with Plex software).

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Athlon 3000G ($45)

- Pros: Vega 3 graphics are more powerful, unlocked multiplier.

- Cons: No Hyper-Threading, outdated AM4 socket.

Intel Celeron G6900 ($55)

- Pros: Alder Lake architecture (10 nm), 2 cores/2 threads.

- Cons: Weaker in multi-threaded tasks.

Conclusion: G6500T excels due to Hyper-Threading but falls short in graphics compared to Athlon.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- Case: Choose compact models (e.g., Fractal Design Core 500) to save space.

- Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient, but a Noctua NH-L9i ($45) is suitable for quiet operation.

- Storage: Always use an SSD (e.g., Kingston A400 480 GB for $30).

- Networking Options: Add a Wi-Fi adapter (e.g., TP-Link Archer TX50E for $40) if the motherboard lacks wireless capability.

9. Final Verdict: Who is the Pentium Gold G6500T Suitable For?

This processor is an option for those who:

1. Are building a budget PC for office work, studies, or web surfing.

2. Need an energy-efficient system (e.g., home server).

3. Plan to use the PC as a media center capable of 4K video output.

Why should you avoid the G6500T in 2025?

- For gaming and video editing, it’s better to choose an AMD Ryzen 3 5300G ($90) or Intel Core i3-12100 ($110).

- If you need a modern platform with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support, consider Alder Lake or Ryzen 7000 processors.

Conclusion

The Intel Pentium Gold G6500T is an example of a “workhorse” for undemanding tasks. Priced at $50–60, it remains relevant in 2025, but should only be considered under a strict budget. For future upgrades, opting for a more modern platform is advisable.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2020

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.

G6500T

Code Name

Comet 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

3.50 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

Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0

Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom.

CPU Socket

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

FCLGA1200

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.

100°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.

DDR4-2666

Max Memory Size

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

128 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).

41.6 GB/s

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® UHD 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.

4096x2160@30Hz

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.

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 5

Single Core Score

715

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1273

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2238

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3874

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon W-2102

747 +4.5%

Athlon 240GE

735 +2.8%

Pentium Gold G6500T

715

Core i5-3330S

690 -3.5%

Core i7-3615QM

672 -6%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Xeon E5-2697 v4

1417 +11.3%

Xeon E5-2403

1359 +6.8%

Pentium Gold G6500T

1273

A8-5500

1185 -6.9%

A8-3820

1102 -13.4%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Core i5-8279U

2300 +2.8%

Ryzen 5 PRO 2600

2267 +1.3%

Pentium Gold G6500T

2238

Xeon W-2223

2210 -1.3%

Xeon Silver 4310

2187 -2.3%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium Gold G6505

4371 +12.8%

Core i5-3570T

4107 +6%

Pentium Gold G6500T

3874

FX-6100

3676 -5.1%

Core i3-4160

3507 -9.5%