Intel Core i3-7300T vs Intel Pentium Silver N6005 Comparison

The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 and the Intel Core i3-7300T represent two very different approaches to low-power computing, and the benchmark data shows a surprisingly consistent outcome. Despite the Core i3’s higher base clock and desktop pedigree, the Pentium Silver N6005 wins every single head-to-head benchmark in this comparison. The data shows a clean sweep, but the reasons behind it and the practical implications for a builder are worth unpacking in detail.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking finding is the uniformity of the results. Across all five shared benchmark tests, the Pentium Silver N6005 finishes ahead by nearly the same margin every time. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the N6005 scores 447 against the i3-7300T’s 354, a 26.3% advantage. That same 26.3% delta repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the scores are 1866 versus 1477. The pattern holds in Cinebench R23 multi-core as well, with 4444 against 3519.

Single-core performance tells the same story. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the N6005 posts 263 versus 208, a 26.4% lead. Cinebench R23 single-core shows 627 versus 496, again a 26.4% gap. The consistency of the deltaPct across both single- and multi-threaded workloads suggests a fundamental throughput advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk. It is not as if one chip wins in lightly threaded tasks and the other in heavy rendering; the Pentium simply outruns the Core i3 in every scenario tested.

Geekbench results are available for the Pentium Silver N6005, with a multi-core score of 1469 and a single-core score of 564, but the Core i3-7300T has no corresponding Geekbench entry in this data, so a direct comparison there is not possible. The overall average benchmark score tells a similar tale: the N6005 averages 1218, while the i3-7300T averages 1211. That difference is tiny, but the head-to-head deltas are not. The average includes tests that are not shared between the two, which dilutes the visible gap.

The wins are decisive and consistent. The Pentium Silver N6005 takes 5 out of 5 head-to-head tests, with no wins for the Core i3-7300T. For anyone comparing these two based purely on render performance, the choice is clear from the numbers alone.

Architecture Differences

The underlying hardware explains why the Pentium Silver N6005 punches above its apparent class. The N6005 uses the Tremont architecture on the Jasper Lake platform, built on a 10 nm process. It has 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 2000 MHz and a boost clock of 3.30 GHz. The Core i3-7300T, by contrast, is a Kaby Lake part on a 14 nm process, with only 2 cores but 4 threads thanks to Hyper-Threading. Its base clock is higher at 3.50 GHz, and it has no boost clock listed.

Cache configurations differ significantly. The Pentium Silver N6005 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 1.5 MB of shared L2, and 4 MB of shared L3. The Core i3-7300T also has 64 KB of L1 per core, but its L2 is 256 KB per core, and it has 4 MB of shared L3. The shared L2 on the Pentium Silver is a notable difference, allowing all four cores to access a larger pool of fast memory, which likely contributes to its multi-core performance edge.

Memory support also diverges. The N6005 supports DDR4 and LPDDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 46.9 GB/s. The i3-7300T supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but with a lower bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Pentium’s higher memory bandwidth helps feed its four cores more effectively.

Power and platform targets are completely different. The N6005 has a TDP of just 10 watts and uses the Intel BGA 1338 socket, a mobile package. The i3-7300T has a 35-watt TDP and uses the desktop Intel Socket 1151. The PCIe configurations reflect this: the N6005 offers Gen 3 with 8 lanes from the CPU, while the i3-7300T offers Gen 3 with 16 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ, with the N6005 featuring UHD Graphics 32EU and the i3-7300T using Intel HD 630.

Process node matters here. The 10 nm Tremont design delivers efficiency and performance per watt that the older 14 nm Kaby Lake cannot match, even with a higher clock speed. The N6005’s four physical cores versus the i3-7300T’s two physical cores with four threads appears to be the decisive factor in the consistent 26% lead.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the Pentium Silver N6005 wins everywhere that was tested. In Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, both multi-core and single-core, the N6005 is ahead. The data shows no workload in which the Core i3-7300T takes the lead. That makes the use-case split one-sided: for rendering, encoding, or any CPU-bound task represented by these tests, the N6005 is the better performer.

That does not make the Core i3-7300T useless, but its advantages lie outside the benchmark suite. The i3-7300T has a significantly higher TDP of 35 watts versus 10 watts, which means it is designed for systems with active cooling and a real power budget, not fanless or passively cooled mobile devices. Its socket is Socket 1151, a desktop platform with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, allowing for more expansion options like discrete GPUs or multiple NVMe drives. The N6005’s 8 PCIe lanes and BGA package limit it to more integrated or compact builds.

The i3-7300T also has a higher base clock of 3.50 GHz, which could feel snappier in lightly threaded tasks that do not scale with cores, even though the benchmark data shows the N6005 winning in single-core Cinebench tests. The 4 MB of L3 cache is the same on both, but the per-core L2 on the i3-7300T is 256 KB, which may help in certain latency-sensitive workloads.

For a builder targeting a low-power always-on system, a home server, or a compact mobile device, the N6005 is the obvious choice. For someone building a desktop with room for a proper cooler and expansion cards, the i3-7300T offers a more conventional platform, even if it loses on raw compute in these benchmarks.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The Intel Pentium Silver N6005 outperforms the Intel Core i3-7300T in every head-to-head benchmark available, with consistent margins around 26% in both single- and multi-core tests. Its average benchmark score of 1218 edges out the i3-7300T’s 1211, and it sits in the 34th percentile of all CPUs, the same percentile as its rival.

If the priority is raw CPU performance in Cinebench-style workloads, the Pentium Silver N6005 is the pick. The 4-core Tremont design on 10 nm delivers more throughput than the 2-core Kaby Lake part, despite the i3-7300T’s higher clock speed. The N6005 also does this at a fraction of the power draw, with a 10-watt TDP versus 35 watts.

However, the i3-7300T is not without reason to exist. Its 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and desktop Socket 1151 make it a more flexible foundation for a traditional PC. The 256 KB per-core L2 cache and 3.50 GHz base clock are not enough to overcome the Pentium’s architectural advantage in these tests, but they do not hurt in general desktop use. The i3-7300T is listed as active production, while the N6005 is end-of-life, which could matter for long-term availability.

Choose the Pentium Silver N6005 for compute density and efficiency. Choose the Core i3-7300T if you need a desktop platform with more PCIe lanes and upgrade potential, accepting the performance deficit shown in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU is faster in multi-core performance?

A: The Pentium Silver N6005 wins in all multi-core tests, with a 26.3% lead in Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 multi-core scores.

Q: Does the Core i3-7300T win any benchmark?

A: No. The head-to-head data shows 5 wins for the Pentium Silver N6005 and 0 wins for the Core i3-7300T.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Pentium Silver N6005 has an average benchmark score of 1218, while the Core i3-7300T averages 1211, a difference of 0.6% in favor of the N6005.

Q: What is the core and thread difference?

A: The Pentium Silver N6005 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the Core i3-7300T has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU has a lower power draw?

A: The Pentium Silver N6005 has a TDP of 10 watts, compared to 35 watts for the Core i3-7300T.

Q: Are the memory bandwidths different?

A: Yes. The Pentium Silver N6005 supports up to 46.9 GB/s, while the Core i3-7300T supports up to 38.4 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Pentium Silver N6005 | Intel Core i3-7300T |

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

| Cores | 4 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 2000.00 MHz | 3.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.30 GHz | None |

| TDP | 10 W | 35 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1338 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Tremont | Kaby Lake |

| Codename | Jasper Lake | Kaby Lake |

| Process Node | 10 nm | 14 nm |

| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB (shared) | 256 KB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 4 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4, LPDDR4 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 46.9 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 3, 8 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 32EU | Intel HD 630 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |