Intel Core i3-8300T vs Intel Core i5-6600T Comparison

The Intel Core i3-8300T and Intel Core i5-6600T are two low-power desktop processors that deliver nearly identical performance in most traditional rendering workloads, yet the benchmark data reveals a stark divergence in one specific test. The i5-6600T wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head comparisons, but the i3-8300T scores a decisive victory in Geekbench multi-core, a result that flips the practical recommendation for certain usage patterns. Both chips sit at the 39th percentile of all CPUs tracked, with average benchmark scores of 1586 for the i3-8300T and 1563 for the i5-6600T, making them statistically equivalent overall. However, the specific workloads that matter to you will dictate which of these two end-of-life parts deserves consideration.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Core i5-6600T is the consistent winner in Cinebench rendering tests across all three major versions (R15, R20, and R23). In both single-core and multi-core Cinebench runs, the i5-6600T edges ahead by roughly 1.5% to 1.9%. For example, in Cinebench R23 multi-core, the i5-6600T scores 4745 versus the i3-8300T’s 4656, a 1.9% margin. This pattern holds in single-core Cinebench R23 as well, where the i5-6600T posts 669 against 657. These are narrow but consistent wins, suggesting that the i5-6600T has a slight architectural advantage in pure CPU-rendering tasks that rely on sustained multi-threaded and single-threaded execution.

The Intel Core i3-8300T, by contrast, wins decisively in Geekbench multi-core testing. Its score of 3436 dwarfs the i5-6600T’s 3104, a 10.7% advantage. This is the single largest performance gap between the two chips in any benchmark. The i3-8300T also nearly ties the i5-6600T in Geekbench single-core, scoring 1171 versus 1172, a negligible 0.1% difference. This suggests that the i3-8300T’s architecture handles Geekbench’s multi-threaded workload far more efficiently, making it the better choice if your applications resemble that test’s mix of integer, floating-point, and memory operations.

For everyday productivity and general computing, the two are effectively interchangeable. The i5-6600T holds a tiny edge in single-core performance across the board, which could translate to marginally snappier response in lightly threaded applications. But the i3-8300T’s Geekbench multi-core win indicates superior scaling in more modern, parallel-friendly software. The data points to a clear split: Cinebench-style rendering favors the i5-6600T, while Geekbench-style mixed workloads favor the i3-8300T.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and use different dies. The i3-8300T is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, while the i5-6600T uses the older Skylake architecture. Both are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node, but the die sizes differ significantly: the i3-8300T has a 126 mm² die, whereas the i5-6600T has a 177 mm² die. This size difference hints at a more efficient layout for the newer Coffee Lake part.

Both chips have 4 cores and 4 threads, so there is no hyper-threading advantage for either. The base clocks differ, with the i3-8300T running at 3.20 GHz compared to the i5-6600T’s 2.70 GHz. However, the i5-6600T has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz, while the i3-8300T has no listed boost clock, meaning it relies entirely on its higher base frequency. Cache configurations also differ: the i3-8300T has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-6600T has only 6 MB. Both share the same per-core L1 (64 KB) and L2 (256 KB) cache sizes.

Memory support represents another key divergence. The i3-8300T supports DDR4 only, with a dual-channel memory bus and a peak bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The i5-6600T supports both DDR3 and DDR4, also on a dual-channel bus, but its bandwidth tops out at 34.1 GB/s. The i3-8300T also supports ECC memory, a feature absent from the i5-6600T. Integrated graphics differ as well: the i3-8300T has UHD Graphics 630, while the i5-6600T has the older UHD Graphics 530. Both use the same PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most striking result is in Geekbench multi-core, where the i3-8300T wins by a massive 10.7% margin. Scoring 3436 against 3104, this is the only benchmark where the newer chip demonstrates a clear advantage. This result likely stems from the i3-8300T’s higher base clock of 3.20 GHz and larger 8 MB L3 cache, which together allow it to handle Geekbench’s parallel workloads more effectively. The i5-6600T’s boost clock of 3.50 GHz cannot compensate for its lower 2.70 GHz base and smaller 6 MB cache in this scenario.

Every other benchmark goes to the i5-6600T, but by remarkably small margins. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the i5-6600T scores 478 versus 469, a 1.9% difference. Single-core R15 shows 67 against 66, a 1.5% edge. The pattern repeats in R20 (1992 vs 1955 multi-core, 280 vs 275 single-core) and R23 (4745 vs 4656 multi-core, 669 vs 657 single-core). Each of these wins is in the 1.8% to 1.9% range, suggesting a consistent but modest advantage for the i5-6600T in Cinebench’s rendering engine. The Geekbench single-core test is essentially a tie, with the i5-6600T winning by 0.1% (1172 vs 1171).

What explains the i5-6600T’s Cinebench dominance despite its lower base clock? The boost clock of 3.50 GHz likely kicks in during Cinebench’s shorter, bursty workloads, allowing the older chip to reach higher effective frequencies. The i3-8300T, with no boost capability, is locked to 3.20 GHz. In longer, sustained workloads like Geekbench multi-core, the i3-8300T’s superior cache and memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s vs 34.1 GB/s) allow it to pull ahead. The data suggests that the i5-6600T is better for short, bursty tasks, while the i3-8300T excels in longer, memory-intensive parallel operations.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation based on workload. If your primary applications are Cinebench-style rendering tasks — which include many 3D modeling and animation tools — the Intel Core i5-6600T is the safer choice. It wins every Cinebench test by a consistent 1.5% to 1.9% margin, and its 3.50 GHz boost clock gives it an edge in short, single-threaded bursts. The i5-6600T also holds a tiny 0.1% lead in Geekbench single-core, making it marginally better for legacy or lightly threaded software.

However, if your work involves modern, multi-threaded applications that resemble Geekbench’s mixed workload, the Intel Core i3-8300T is clearly superior. Its 10.7% multi-core advantage is substantial and cannot be ignored. The i3-8300T also offers ECC memory support, a feature that the i5-6600T lacks, which could be decisive for users who require error-correcting memory for data integrity. Additionally, the i3-8300T’s higher memory bandwidth (38.4 GB/s vs 34.1 GB/s) and larger 8 MB L3 cache make it better suited for memory-intensive tasks.

Both processors are end-of-life and sit at the same 39th percentile of all CPUs, so neither is a performance king. The i5-6600T is the better all-around rendering chip, while the i3-8300T is the better choice for modern parallel workloads and ECC support. The i5-6600T had a launch MSRP of $213, while the i3-8300T launched at $138. Choose the i5-6600T for Cinebench-style rendering; choose the i3-8300T for Geekbench-style mixed workloads and ECC requirements.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins the most head-to-head benchmarks?

A: The Intel Core i5-6600T wins 7 out of 8 head-to-head comparisons, including all six Cinebench tests and the Geekbench single-core test. The Intel Core i3-8300T wins only the Geekbench multi-core test.

Q: How large is the i3-8300T’s Geekbench multi-core advantage?

A: The i3-8300T scores 3436 in Geekbench multi-core versus the i5-6600T’s 3104, a 10.7% advantage. This is the largest performance gap between the two chips in any benchmark.

Q: Does the i5-6600T have a boost clock?

A: Yes, the i5-6600T has a boost clock of 3.50 GHz. The i3-8300T has no listed boost clock and runs at a fixed base clock of 3.20 GHz.

Q: Which CPU supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-8300T supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-6600T does not support ECC memory.

Q: What are the L3 cache sizes for these two processors?

A: The i3-8300T has 8 MB of shared L3 cache, while the i5-6600T has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core.

Q: Are both processors on the same manufacturing process node?

A: Yes, both the i3-8300T and the i5-6600T are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node. However, the i3-8300T has a smaller die at 126 mm², compared to the i5-6600T’s 177 mm² die.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-8300T | Intel Core i5-6600T |

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

| Architecture | Coffee Lake | Skylake |

| Codename | Coffee Lake | Skylake |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 2.70 GHz |

| Boost Clock | None | 3.50 GHz |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB (shared) | 6 MB (shared) |

| Die Size | 126 mm² | 177 mm² |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 38.4 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 630 | UHD Graphics 530 |

| Launch MSRP | $138 | $213 |

| Part Number | SR3Y1 | SR2L9 |