Intel Core i3-9100HL vs Intel Pentium Gold G6505 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more physical cores, the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 or the Intel Core i3-9100HL?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100HL has 4 physical cores, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 has 2 physical cores. Both processors support 4 threads total, meaning the Pentium Gold uses Hyper-Threading on its 2 cores, while the Core i3 uses its 4 cores without additional threads.

Q: How do the two chips compare in single-core Cinebench R23 performance?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 scores 524 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while the Intel Core i3-9100HL scores 436. This gives the Pentium Gold a 20.2% advantage in that workload.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference between the two processors?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 has a TDP of 58 watts, while the Intel Core i3-9100HL has a TDP of 25 watts. The Core i3-9100HL is rated for substantially lower power consumption.

Q: Which processor supports ECC memory?

A: The Intel Core i3-9100HL supports ECC memory, while the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 does not. This is a notable feature difference for systems requiring error-correcting memory.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor in the database?

A: The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 has an average benchmark score of 1074, while the Intel Core i3-9100HL has an average benchmark score of 1065. The difference between them is less than 1%.

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

A: Yes, both the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 and the Intel Core i3-9100HL are fabricated on a 14 nm process node at Intel.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 and Intel Core i3-9100HL come from different Intel architecture families. The Pentium Gold G6505 is based on Comet Lake, specifically the Comet Lake-R refresh, while the Core i3-9100HL is based on Coffee Lake, specifically the Coffee Lake Refresh generation. Both use the 14 nm process node, but the underlying design lineage diverges in several key areas.

Core counts differ significantly. The Pentium Gold G6505 has 2 cores and 4 threads, relying on simultaneous multithreading to reach 4 threads. The Core i3-9100HL has 4 cores and 4 threads, with no multithreading, so its thread count equals its core count. This means the Pentium Gold has fewer physical execution units but each core handles two threads, whereas the Core i3 spreads its work across four independent cores.

Clock speeds also tell a different story. The Pentium Gold G6505 has a base clock of 4.20 GHz and no boost clock listed. The Core i3-9100HL has a base clock of 1.60 GHz and a boost clock of 2.90 GHz. The Pentium Gold runs at a much higher fixed frequency, while the Core i3 relies on boosting to reach its maximum speed.

Cache hierarchies differ in total L3 capacity. Both processors have 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core. The Pentium Gold G6505 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Core i3-9100HL has 6 MB of shared L3 cache. Despite having fewer cores, the Pentium Gold carries less L3 cache than the four-core Core i3.

Memory support is similar on the surface: both support DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. However, ECC memory support splits them. The Core i3-9100HL supports ECC memory, while the Pentium Gold G6505 does not. This is an important distinction for stability-critical workloads.

PCIe capabilities are identical: both offer Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU. The integrated graphics are also the same model, UHD Graphics 630. Both processors are locked, with no unlocked multiplier.

Packaging and platform differ. The Pentium Gold G6505 uses Intel Socket 1200, a socketed desktop platform. The Core i3-9100HL uses Intel BGA 1440, a ball-grid array package that is soldered directly to the motherboard. The Core i3-9100HL also has a recorded die size of 126 mm², while the Pentium Gold has no die size listed in the database.

The Core i3-9100HL is marked as end-of-life production status, while the Pentium Gold G6505 remains active. Release dates also differ, with the Core i3-9100HL released earlier and the Pentium Gold G6505 arriving later.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data in the database covers five Cinebench tests, and the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 wins all five. The results are consistent, with every delta falling between 20.1% and 20.3%.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Pentium Gold G6505 scores 374 against 311 for the Core i3-9100HL, a 20.3% advantage. This is the largest recorded delta between the two processors. In Cinebench R20 multicore, the Pentium Gold scores 1560 versus 1299, a 20.1% lead. The R23 multicore test shows 3715 for the Pentium Gold and 3094 for the Core i3, again 20.1% ahead.

Single-core results follow the same pattern. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium Gold G6505 scores 220 against 183 for the Core i3-9100HL, a 20.2% difference. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Pentium Gold scores 524 against 436, also a 20.2% advantage.

The consistency of these deltas across both single-core and multicore tests suggests the Pentium Gold's higher base clock of 4.20 GHz provides a decisive edge over the Core i3-9100HL's lower base clock of 1.60 GHz and boost clock of 2.90 GHz. Even though the Core i3 has twice as many physical cores, the Pentium Gold's frequency advantage dominates these heavily single-threaded Cinebench workloads.

It is importantly the Core i3-9100HL has no recorded Cinebench R15 single-core score in the database, so that particular comparison is not available. The available data shows five wins for the Pentium Gold G6505 and zero wins for the Core i3-9100HL.

The average benchmark scores offer a broader perspective. The Pentium Gold G6505 averages 1074, while the Core i3-9100HL averages 1065. This difference is less than 1%, indicating that outside of the Cinebench suite, the two processors land at nearly the same overall performance level. The nearest rivals for the Pentium Gold include the Intel Core i5-2310 at 1073 (0.1% difference), the Intel Core i3-4170T at 1072 (0.2%), the Intel Core i5-5287U at 1072 (0.2%), and the AMD Athlon X4 880K at 1071 (0.2%). For the Core i3-9100HL, the nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon W3580 at 1064 (0.1%), the Intel Core i5-2380P at 1063 (0.2%), the Intel Core i5-4570TE at 1062 (0.3%), and the AMD Opteron 4376 HE at 1061 (0.4%).

The percentile rankings also align closely. The Pentium Gold G6505 sits at the 30th percentile among all CPUs, while the Core i3-9100HL sits at the 29th percentile. This one-percentile gap reflects their nearly identical average scores.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several specification fields. The core count differs: 2 cores for the Pentium Gold G6505 versus 4 cores for the Core i3-9100HL. Thread count is the same at 4, but achieved differently.

Base clock differs substantially: 4.20 GHz for the Pentium Gold versus 1.60 GHz for the Core i3. The Core i3 has a boost clock of 2.90 GHz, while the Pentium Gold has no boost clock listed.

TDP is another major difference: 58 watts for the Pentium Gold versus 25 watts for the Core i3-9100HL. The socket differs as well: Intel Socket 1200 for the Pentium Gold versus Intel BGA 1440 for the Core i3.

The architecture and codename differ: Comet Lake with codename Comet Lake-R for the Pentium Gold, versus Coffee Lake with codename Coffee Lake for the Core i3. The generation labels also differ: Pentium Gold (Comet Lake) versus Core i3 (Coffee Lake Refresh).

L3 cache capacity differs: 4 MB shared for the Pentium Gold versus 6 MB shared for the Core i3-9100HL. The Core i3 also has a recorded die size of 126 mm², while the Pentium Gold has none listed.

ECC memory support differs: false for the Pentium Gold, true for the Core i3. Production status differs: Active for the Pentium Gold, End-of-life for the Core i3. Release dates differ, and the part numbers are different: SRH3V for the Pentium Gold, SRFEK for the Core i3.

The launch MSRP for the Pentium Gold G6505 is $75. The launch MSRP for the Core i3-9100HL is $225.

Fields that are the same include manufacturer (Intel), process node (14 nm), foundry (Intel), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), memory support (DDR4), memory bus (dual-channel), memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s), PCIe (Gen 3, 16 lanes CPU only), integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), market segment (Desktop), and multiplier unlock status (false for both).

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows a clear winner in the Cinebench suite: the Intel Pentium Gold G6505 beats the Intel Core i3-9100HL by roughly 20% in every recorded head-to-head test. Its 4.20 GHz base clock gives it a decisive frequency advantage that the Core i3-9100HL cannot overcome, despite having twice as many physical cores.

However, the overall average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story. The Pentium Gold G6505 averages 1074, just 9 points above the Core i3-9100HL's 1065. Both processors sit within one percentile of each other in the all-CPU ranking, at the 30th and 29th percentiles respectively. This suggests that outside the specific Cinebench workloads, the performance gap narrows considerably.

The Core i3-9100HL offers features that the Pentium Gold does not: ECC memory support, a larger 6 MB L3 cache, and a much lower TDP of 25 watts versus 58 watts. It also has four physical cores, which can be advantageous in workloads that scale with core count but do not depend heavily on clock speed.

For users prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, the Pentium Gold G6505 is the stronger choice. For users prioritizing lower power consumption, ECC memory support, or a soldered BGA package for embedded-style deployments, the Core i3-9100HL has clear advantages. The data does not support a single universal recommendation; the right choice depends on the workload and platform constraints.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Pentium Gold G6505 wins in every recorded Cinebench benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it leads by 20.3%. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it leads by 20.1%. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it leads by 20.2%. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it leads by 20.1%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads by 20.2%. This makes it the better option for workloads that resemble these rendering and 3D modeling tests, where high clock speeds drive performance.

The Pentium Gold also has the advantage of being an active production part on a socketed platform, Intel Socket 1200, which allows for easier replacement or upgrades. Its higher 4.20 GHz base clock is well suited for lightly threaded tasks that respond strongly to frequency.

The Intel Core i3-9100HL wins in areas outside raw benchmark scores. Its 25 watt TDP is less than half that of the Pentium Gold G6505's 58 watt TDP, making it the better choice for power-constrained systems. Its ECC memory support is a genuine feature advantage for applications where data integrity is critical, such as certain server or reliability-focused workloads. The 6 MB L3 cache, larger than the Pentium Gold's 4 MB, may also benefit workloads with larger working sets that fit within cache.

The Core i3-9100HL's four physical cores provide a structural advantage in multithreaded scenarios that do not rely on high clock speeds. While the Cinebench results show the Pentium Gold ahead, those tests favor frequency heavily. The average benchmark scores, which are nearly identical, suggest that in a broader mix of applications, the Core i3-9100HL holds its own.

The Core i3-9100HL is also the only one of the two with a recorded die size of 126 mm². Its BGA 1440 package, while not upgradeable, is typical for compact or embedded system designs. Its end-of-life production status means it is no longer being manufactured, so availability may be limited.

In summary, the Pentium Gold G6505 is the pick for maximum Cinebench performance and a socketed desktop platform. The Core i3-9100HL is the pick for lower power draw, ECC memory support, and a four-core design with a larger L3 cache.