Intel Core i3-7300 vs Intel Pentium Gold G6605 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data is remarkably one-sided. The Intel Core i3-7300 wins all six head-to-head tests against the Pentium Gold G6605, with margins ranging from a tie in one test to a 1.3% lead in another. However, the practical difference is small: the largest single-core advantage is 1.3%, and the largest multi-core advantage is 1.1%. For a user deciding between these two, the choice hinges on platform, not performance. The i3-7300 uses the older Intel Socket 1151 with Kaby Lake architecture, while the Pentium Gold G6605 uses Intel Socket 1200 with Comet Lake. If you already own a 1151 board, the i3-7300 is the better performer in every recorded benchmark. If you are building fresh, the Pentium Gold G6605 offers the newer socket and a 4.30 GHz base clock versus 4.00 GHz, but it loses every benchmark by a hair. Neither chip is unlocked for overclocking, and both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier. The Pentium Gold G6605 does have a recorded launch MSRP of $86, which can be stated once; the i3-7300 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations. The i3-7300 is built on Kaby Lake architecture, released in early 2017, while the Pentium Gold G6605 uses Comet Lake-R, released in early 2021. Both use the same 14 nm process node from Intel, and both have the same core and thread configuration: 2 cores and 4 threads. Cache structures are identical as well: 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The integrated graphics differ: the i3-7300 carries Intel HD 630, while the Pentium Gold G6605 carries UHD Graphics 630. Memory support is DDR4 dual-channel for both, but the Pentium Gold G6605 has a higher memory bandwidth rating at 42.7 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s for the i3-7300. PCIe support is the same: Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The sockets are not compatible: the i3-7300 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Pentium Gold G6605 uses Intel Socket 1200. TDP differs, with the i3-7300 rated at 51 and the Pentium Gold G6605 at 58. The base clock is higher on the Pentium Gold G6605 at 4.30 GHz versus 4.00 GHz, yet the benchmark results do not favor it.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Core i3-7300. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i3-7300 scores 388 versus 384, a 1% lead. In single-core R15, both score 54, a tie, but the database records the i3-7300 as the winner with a 0% delta. Moving to Cinebench R20, the i3-7300 takes multi-core with 1619 against 1601, a 1.1% margin, and single-core with 228 against 225, a 1.3% margin, which is the largest single-core gap in the entire comparison. In Cinebench R23, the i3-7300 leads multi-core with 3856 versus 3814 (1.1%) and single-core with 544 versus 538 (1.1%). The average benchmark score reinforces the pattern: the i3-7300 averages 1115, while the Pentium Gold G6605 averages 1103. That is a 12-point gap, roughly 1.1%. The nearest rivals for each chip tell a similar story. The i3-7300 is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (1116, 0% delta) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-3550S (1118, -0.3%) and i3-4150 (1119, -0.3%). The Pentium Gold G6605 is tied with the Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 (1103, 0%) and nearly tied with the AMD PRO A12-9800 (1104, -0.1%). The i3-7300 has a slightly better rival set on average, but both are firmly in the same performance class.

Specification Differences

The table below highlights only the fields where the two processors differ:

| Specification | Intel Core i3-7300 | Intel Pentium Gold G6605 |

|----------------|---------------------|---------------------------|

| Base Clock | 4.00 GHz | 4.30 GHz |

| TDP | 51 | 58 |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1151 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Kaby Lake | Comet Lake |

| Codename | Kaby Lake | Comet Lake-R |

| Generation | Core i3 (Kaby Lake) | Pentium Gold (Comet Lake) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 42.7 GB/s |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 630 | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Release Date | 2017-01-02 | 2021-03-15 |

| Launch MSRP | null | $86 |

| Part Number | SR359 | SRH3T |

| Nearest Rival (Avg Score) | AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (1116) | Intel Xeon E5-2603 v3 (1103) |

Everything else is identical: 2 cores, 4 threads, 14 nm process, 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, 4 MB shared L3, DDR4 dual-channel memory, no ECC support, PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, desktop market segment, active production status, and locked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock speed?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6605 runs at 4.30 GHz, while the Intel Core i3-7300 runs at 4.00 GHz.

Q: Are these processors compatible with the same motherboard?

A: No. The i3-7300 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Pentium Gold G6605 uses Intel Socket 1200. They are not interchangeable.

Q: Which chip wins in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Core i3-7300 wins all three multi-core benchmarks: Cinebench R15 (388 vs 384), R20 (1619 vs 1601), and R23 (3856 vs 3814).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest recorded margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the i3-7300 leads by 1.3% (228 vs 225).

Q: Do both CPUs have the same amount of cache?

A: Yes. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache.

Q: Is the Pentium Gold G6605 a newer product?

A: Yes, it was released in March 2021, while the i3-7300 was released in January 2017. The Pentium Gold G6605 also has a recorded launch MSRP of $86.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i3-7300 wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. That is six wins out of six, with zero wins for the Pentium Gold G6605. The i3-7300 is the pick for anyone prioritizing raw benchmark scores, even though the margins are small: 1% in R15 multi-core, 1.1% in R20 multi-core, 1.1% in R23 multi-core, 0% in R15 single-core, 1.3% in R20 single-core, and 1.1% in R23 single-core. If you are on an existing Intel Socket 1151 platform, the i3-7300 is the clear upgrade choice based on the data.

The Intel Pentium Gold G6605 does have its own advantages, but not in the benchmark results. It has a higher base clock of 4.30 GHz, which could be relevant for lightly threaded tasks that do not scale with cache or architecture, but the recorded single-core scores do not reflect that advantage. It also has higher memory bandwidth at 42.7 GB/s, which may help in memory-sensitive applications, though no benchmark in the data confirms this. The Pentium Gold G6605 has a newer release date (2021 vs 2017) and uses the more modern Intel Socket 1200 platform, which is relevant for system builders who want a current motherboard. Its integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630, a newer branding than the HD 630 on the i3-7300.

For a practical builder, the decision comes down to platform and longevity. The i3-7300 is the faster chip in every measured test, but the differences are under 1.5%, which is within noise for many real-world workloads. The Pentium Gold G6605 offers a newer socket, a higher clock, and higher memory bandwidth, but it loses all six benchmarks. If you have a 1151 board, take the i3-7300. If you are buying a new board, the Pentium Gold G6605 is not slower by a meaningful margin, and it puts you on a platform that is several years newer. The data does not show a scenario where the Pentium Gold G6605 wins, so the i3-7300 is the performance pick, while the Pentium Gold G6605 is the platform pick. Both sit at the 31st percentile among all CPUs, so neither is a high-performance part; they are entry-level desktop processors with similar average scores (1115 vs 1103). Choose based on the motherboard you own or plan to buy, not on the 1% benchmark delta.