Intel Core i3-6100 vs Intel Pentium G4560T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-6100 and Intel Pentium G4560T are two dual-core, four-thread Socket 1151 processors that land in the same performance bracket despite their architectural differences. The benchmark data shows a clear split: the G4560T dominates in Cinebench workloads, while the i3-6100 takes a decisive lead in Geekbench tests. With the i3-6100 holding an average benchmark score of 888 and the G4560T scoring 887, the overall performance gap is a razor-thin 0.1%, placing both in the 24th percentile of all CPUs. The head-to-head results reveal that the choice between these two depends entirely on which application suite matters more to you.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The G4560T wins five of the seven head-to-head comparisons, and it does so with striking consistency. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the G4560T scores 256 against the i3-6100's 224, a 12.5% advantage. That same 12.5% delta carries through Cinebench R20 multicore, where the G4560T posts 1068 versus 934, and Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 2544 versus 2226. Single-core Cinebench results follow the same pattern: the G4560T leads by 12.7% in R20 (150 versus 131) and by 12.5% in R23 (359 versus 314). This is a sweeping, uniform victory across the entire Cinebench suite, indicating that the Pentium's architecture extracts more performance per clock in rendering and 3D workload scenarios.

The i3-6100's counterattack comes in Geekbench, and it is overwhelming. In Geekbench multicore, the i3-6100 scores 1605 against the G4560T's 1237, a 29.7% lead. The single-core Geekbench test shows an even larger gap: 785 versus 594, a 32.2% advantage for the i3-6100. These are massive deltas, far larger than the G4560T's Cinebench margin. This suggests the i3-6100 is substantially stronger in the types of integer and floating-point operations that Geekbench emphasizes, which often correlate with general desktop responsiveness and productivity applications.

The overall picture is one of divergent strengths. The G4560T's Cinebench wins are consistent but moderate, hovering around 12.5%. The i3-6100's Geekbench wins are dramatic, exceeding 30%. When averaging all benchmarks, the two CPUs land within 0.1% of each other, with the i3-6100 at 888 and the G4560T at 887. Their nearest rivals further confirm this parity: the Intel Xeon X5550 matches the i3-6100 exactly at 888, while the AMD PRO A8-8650B matches the G4560T at 887. Both processors effectively tie with the Intel Core i7-860, which scores 886.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Pentium G4560T wins decisively, scoring 2544 compared to the i3-6100's 2226. This represents a 12.5% performance advantage for the Pentium in this rendering workload.

Q: How large is the i3-6100's lead in Geekbench single-core?

A: The i3-6100 scores 785, while the G4560T manages only 594. That is a 32.2% gap in favor of the i3-6100, making it the clear choice for single-threaded Geekbench performance.

Q: Do both processors have the same number of cores and threads?

A: Yes, both are 2-core, 4-thread parts. The i3-6100 and G4560T each feature 2 physical cores with Hyper-Threading, providing 4 logical threads for processing.

Q: What is the difference in their average benchmark scores?

A: The i3-6100 has an average benchmark score of 888, while the G4560T scores 887. The difference is just 0.1%, indicating they are statistically equivalent in overall performance.

Q: Which processor has a higher base clock speed?

A: The i3-6100 runs at a base clock of 3.70 GHz, which is higher than the G4560T's 2.90 GHz. Neither processor features a boost clock, so these are their maximum sustained speeds.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, both the i3-6100 and the G4560T have a locked multiplier, meaning neither can be overclocked by adjusting the clock multiplier.

Architecture Differences

The two CPUs come from different Intel microarchitectures. The i3-6100 is built on Skylake, while the G4560T is based on Kaby Lake. Both are manufactured on the same 14 nm process node at Intel's foundry, but they diverge in other architectural details. The i3-6100 has a larger L3 cache at 4 MB shared, whereas the G4560T offers 3 MB shared. Both share the same L1 cache of 64 KB per core and L2 cache of 256 KB per core. The i3-6100's die size is 150 mm² with 1,400 million transistors, while the G4560T's die size and transistor count are not specified in the data.

Integrated graphics also differ. The i3-6100 pairs its compute cores with Intel HD 530 graphics, while the G4560T is equipped with the lower-tier Intel HD 610. This is a meaningful distinction for users planning to rely on the integrated GPU, as the HD 530 is positioned as a more capable graphics solution. Memory bandwidth figures also diverge: the i3-6100 is rated at 34.1 GB/s, while the G4560T is rated higher at 38.4 GB/s, despite both supporting dual-channel DDR4 memory.

The release timeline shows the i3-6100 launching in August 2015, with the G4560T following in January 2017. Both processors share the same Intel Socket 1151 interface, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory. Both are marked as Active production status and are target the Desktop market segment.

Specification Differences

The specification table reveals several key differences between the two processors. The base clock is a major divergence: the i3-6100 operates at 3.70 GHz, while the G4560T runs at a much lower 2.90 GHz. This clock speed gap likely explains the i3-6100's strong Geekbench performance, as higher clock speeds directly benefit latency-sensitive workloads.

Thermal design power is another significant difference. The i3-6100 has a TDP of 51 watts, while the G4560T draws only 35 watts. This makes the G4560T a more power-efficient option, which can be critical for compact or thermally constrained builds. The L3 cache differs as noted, with 4 MB on the i3-6100 versus 3 MB on the G4560T. Memory bandwidth is higher on the G4560T at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s, a counterintuitive result given its lower clock speed.

The integrated graphics differ, with the i3-6100 featuring Intel HD 530 and the G4560T using Intel HD 610. Their part numbers also differ: SR2HG for the i3-6100 and SR35T for the G4560T. The generation field distinguishes them as "Core i3 (Skylake)" versus "Pentium (Kaby Lake)," and the release dates are separated by roughly 16 months. No launch MSRP is available for either processor.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear but nuanced verdict. If your primary workloads are Cinebench-style rendering tasks, the G4560T is the unambiguous winner, delivering a 12.5% advantage across every Cinebench test with lower power consumption. However, if your work leans toward Geekbench-measured scenarios, the i3-6100 is significantly faster, with leads of 29.7% in multicore and 32.2% in single-core. The overall average scores are nearly identical, so the decision hinges on workload composition.

The G4560T's lower TDP of 35 watts versus the i3-6100's 51 watts makes it the better choice for power-sensitive builds, though the i3-6100 compensates with a higher base clock and more L3 cache. The i3-6100's superior integrated graphics (HD 530 versus HD 610) also matter for builds without a discrete GPU. Neither processor offers overclocking, so clock speed and architecture are fixed.

From a pure performance-per-watt standpoint, the G4560T is impressive, achieving nearly identical average scores while drawing significantly less power. From a raw single-thread performance perspective, the i3-6100 is the stronger part, as evidenced by its Geekbench dominance. The 0.1% average score difference between the two is statistically negligible, but the distribution of wins is not.

Where Each One Wins

The G4560T wins in all Cinebench scenarios, making it the pick for users running rendering, 3D modeling, or video encoding tasks that leverage the Cinebench benchmark's workload pattern. Its consistent 12.5% lead across R15, R20, and R23, in both single and multicore tests, demonstrates a well-rounded advantage in this specific application family. The G4560T also wins on efficiency, with its 35-watt TDP making it suited for low-power or small-form-factor systems where heat and power draw are primary concerns.

The i3-6100 wins decisively in Geekbench, making it the better option for general desktop productivity, web browsing, office applications, and other tasks where Geekbench's mixed workload is more representative. Its 29.7% multicore and 32.2% single-core advantages are substantial, indicating that the i3-6100 will feel snappier in everyday use despite losing in Cinebench. The i3-6100 also wins on integrated graphics, with the HD 530 providing a more capable iGPU solution for basic gaming or media playback without a discrete card. Its higher base clock of 3.70 GHz gives it an edge in clock-sensitive applications, and the larger 4 MB L3 cache may benefit certain cache-heavy workloads.