Intel Core i3-1115G4E vs Intel Core i5-6600T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-6600T and the Intel Core i3-1115G4E occupy nearly identical positions in the aggregate performance hierarchy, with average benchmark scores of 1563 and 1559 respectively. This places both CPUs at the 39th percentile among all processors, and they sit within a 0.3% deltaPct of each other in the i5’s nearest rivals list. Despite this statistical near-parity, the data reveals a starkly polarized performance profile: the i5-6600T wins 7 of 8 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the i3-1115G4E delivers a single, decisive victory in Geekbench single-core testing. The following analysis breaks down where each processor excels, how their architectural approaches differ, and what the benchmark results indicate for potential use cases.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-6600T is the clear winner in every multi-core and threaded workload measured. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, the i5-6600T maintains a consistent lead over the i3-1115G4E, with deltas ranging from 5.6% to 5.8% in multi-core tests. Specifically, the i5-6600T scores 478 versus 452 in Cinebench R15 multi-core (a 5.8% advantage), 1992 versus 1887 in R20 multi-core (5.6%), and 4745 versus 4493 in R23 multi-core (5.6%). This pattern extends to Geekbench multi-core, where the i5-6600T posts 3104 against the i3-1115G4E’s 2972, a 4.4% margin. The data indicates that the i5-6600T’s four physical cores provide a meaningful throughput advantage in parallel workloads, even against a newer dual-core processor with hyper-threading.

In single-core Cinebench tests, the i5-6600T also prevails, though by narrower margins. It leads by 6.3% in Cinebench R15 single-core (67 versus 63), 5.3% in R20 single-core (280 versus 266), and 5.5% in R23 single-core (669 versus 634). These results are surprising given the i3-1115G4E’s higher boost clock of 3.90 GHz compared to the i5-6600T’s 3.50 GHz, but the benchmark data is unambiguous.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E’s sole victory comes in Geekbench single-core, where it scores 1702 against the i5-6600T’s 1172. This represents a massive 31.1% delta in favor of the i3-1115G4E. This single result is an outlier relative to the Cinebench single-core findings, suggesting that the Geekbench workload is particularly sensitive to the architectural advantages of the newer Tiger Lake design. For anyone prioritizing Geekbench single-core performance, the i3-1115G4E is the superior choice by a wide margin.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design eras and market segments. The Intel Core i5-6600T is a desktop part built on the Skylake architecture, fabricated on Intel’s 14 nm process with a die size of 177 mm². It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.70 GHz and a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Its cache hierarchy is modest by modern standards: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache. The i5-6600T supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 interface and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 530. The chip carries a 35 W TDP and was released in July 2015 with a launch MSRP of $213. It is now marked end-of-life.

The Intel Core i3-1115G4E is a mobile processor based on the Tiger Lake-U architecture (Willow Cove cores), fabricated on Intel’s 10 nm process with a smaller die size of 144 mm². It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2.20 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Despite having half the physical cores, it features a larger per-core cache: 80 KB of L1 per core and 1.25 MB of L2 per core, with the same 6 MB of shared L3 as the i5-6600T. Memory support extends to DDR4 and LPDDR4X on a dual-channel bus, though the FACT PACK provides no bandwidth figure. It uses Intel BGA 1449 socket and offers PCIe Gen 4 with 4 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics come as UHD Graphics G4 with 48 execution units. The TDP is significantly lower at 15 W, reflecting its mobile design. Released in September 2020 with a launch MSRP of $285, this chip remains in active production.

The core count difference is the most obvious architectural split: 4 physical cores versus 2 physical cores with hyper-threading. The i5-6600T’s extra cores directly explain its multi-core benchmark wins. However, the i3-1115G4E’s newer microarchitecture, higher boost clock, and substantially larger L2 cache per core (1.25 MB versus 256 KB) explain its Geekbench single-core dominance. The process node advantage (10 nm versus 14 nm) also contributes to the i3’s efficiency, as reflected in its 15 W TDP versus the i5’s 35 W TDP.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split based on workload type. For multi-threaded applications, the Intel Core i5-6600T is the unequivocal choice. It wins every multi-core benchmark in the comparison, with margins between 4.4% and 5.8%. The data shows that its four physical cores consistently outperform the i3-1115G4E’s two cores with four threads in Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and Geekbench multi-core tests. If the target workload involves video encoding, 3D rendering, compilation, or any parallel processing, the i5-6600T delivers measurably better performance.

For single-threaded Geekbench performance, the Intel Core i3-1115G4E is the decisive winner. Its 31.1% advantage in Geekbench single-core is the largest delta in the entire head-to-head data set. This indicates that the i3-1115G4E’s newer architecture is substantially more efficient at executing the specific instructions and memory access patterns in that benchmark. However, this advantage does not carry over to Cinebench single-core tests, where the i5-6600T leads by 5.3% to 6.3%. The discrepancy suggests that Geekbench single-core is uniquely suited to the i3-1115G4E’s strengths, while Cinebench single-core remains favorable to the older Skylake design.

The choice hinges on which benchmark suite aligns with the intended use case. If Geekbench single-core score is the primary metric, the i3-1115G4E is the clear winner. If multi-core throughput or Cinebench performance matters more, the i5-6600T takes the lead in seven of eight comparisons. The i5-6600T also offers desktop socket compatibility and 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the i3-1115G4E is a mobile BGA part with only 4 PCIe Gen 4 lanes. The i3-1115G4E’s active production status and 15 W TDP make it more suitable for power-constrained mobile designs, whereas the i5-6600T, though end-of-life, remains a viable desktop option with broader PCIe connectivity.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600T has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Intel Core i3-1115G4E has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Why does the i5-6600T win most multi-core benchmarks?

A: The i5-6600T’s four physical cores provide a throughput advantage in parallel workloads. It leads the i3-1115G4E by 5.8% in Cinebench R15 multi-core, 5.6% in R20 multi-core, 5.6% in R23 multi-core, and 4.4% in Geekbench multi-core.

Q: What is the single largest benchmark delta between the two CPUs?

A: The largest margin is in Geekbench single-core, where the i3-1115G4E scores 1702 against the i5-6600T’s 1172, a 31.1% advantage for the i3.

Q: Do both processors have the same L3 cache size?

A: Yes, both the i5-6600T and the i3-1115G4E have 6 MB of shared L3 cache. However, the i3-1115G4E has larger per-core L1 (80 KB vs 64 KB) and L2 (1.25 MB vs 256 KB) caches.

Q: Which processor is more power-efficient?

A: The i3-1115G4E has a TDP of 15 W, while the i5-6600T has a TDP of 35 W. The i3 also uses a newer 10 nm process versus the i5’s 14 nm process.

Q: What are the platform differences between the two?

A: The i5-6600T uses Intel Socket 1151 with PCIe Gen 3 and 16 CPU lanes, while the i3-1115G4E uses Intel BGA 1449 with PCIe Gen 4 and 4 CPU lanes. The i5 supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the i3 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a consistent pattern across Cinebench workloads. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-6600T scores 478 against the i3-1115G4E’s 452, a 5.8% win. The single-core R15 result is closer: 67 versus 63, a 6.3% margin for the i5. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i5-6600T posts 1992 multi-core versus 1887, a 5.6% edge, and 280 single-core versus 266, a 5.3% edge. In Cinebench R23, the i5-6600T leads multi-core by 5.6% (4745 versus 4493) and single-core by 5.5% (669 versus 634). These results demonstrate that across all three Cinebench versions, the i5-6600T maintains a stable advantage ranging from 5.3% to 6.3%.

The Geekbench results tell a different story. In Geekbench multi-core, the i5-6600T wins with 3104 versus 2972, a 4.4% margin. This aligns with the Cinebench multi-core results, reinforcing the i5’s multi-threaded superiority. However, Geekbench single-core flips the script entirely: the i3-1115G4E scores 1702, while the i5-6600T manages only 1172. The 31.1% delta is the most dramatic result in the entire comparison and stands in stark contrast to the Cinebench single-core findings.

This divergence between Geekbench single-core and Cinebench single-core results is the key analytical takeaway. The i3-1115G4E’s architectural strengths—likely related to its newer Willow Cove cores, larger L2 cache, and higher boost clock—manifest strongly in Geekbench but not in Cinebench. Conversely, the i5-6600T’s older Skylake cores remain competitive in Cinebench single-core despite their lower clock speed. The data suggests that the choice between these two CPUs depends heavily on which benchmark suite is most representative of the target workload, with the i5-6600T offering broader multi-core dominance and the i3-1115G4E excelling specifically in Geekbench single-core scenarios.