Intel Core i5-2500 vs Intel Pentium Gold G6600 Comparison

The Pentium Gold G6600 is the faster processor in this matchup, winning all five head-to-head Cinebench comparisons against the Core i5-2500, despite the i5 having twice the physical cores. The data shows the G6600 leads by margins of 2.9% to 3.2% across all tested workloads, making it the clear choice for anyone prioritizing raw compute performance in this specific comparison. The i5-2500 is the older, end-of-life part with a larger core count but a lower average benchmark score (1220 vs 1235), and its only advantages are architectural—more cores and more L3 cache—which do not translate into benchmark victories.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the Pentium Gold G6600 is the definitive winner for performance-focused buyers. It holds a 1.2% higher average benchmark score (1235 vs 1220) and wins every single Cinebench test in the head-to-head set. The G6600’s margin is consistent: 3.1% in Cinebench R15 and R20 multi-core, 3.2% in R23 multi-core, and 2.9% to 3.1% in single-core tests. If you are choosing between these two solely on compute capability, the G6600 is the pick without reservation.

The Core i5-2500 is not without merit, but its strengths are qualitative rather than quantitative in this dataset. It offers 4 cores versus the G6600’s 2, and 6 MB of shared L3 cache versus 4 MB, which could matter in workloads that benefit from additional physical cores or larger cache—yet no benchmark in the pack shows such a benefit. The i5 also has a boost clock of 3.70 GHz, but its base clock of 3.30 GHz is lower than the G6600’s fixed 4.20 GHz. For users who require a modern platform, the G6600’s Intel Socket 1200 and DDR4 support are decisive, while the i5’s Socket 1155 and DDR3 are legacy.

In short, the G6600 is the better purchase for anyone who prioritizes the measured scores in this database. The i5-2500 is only preferable if you specifically need more physical cores for non-benchmarked software, or if you are constrained to its older socket. The data does not support choosing the i5 for performance.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two CPUs is substantial, spanning two distinct Intel eras. The Pentium Gold G6600 is built on the Comet Lake architecture using a 14 nm process node, while the Core i5-2500 uses the Sandy Bridge architecture on a 32 nm node. This process difference partly explains the G6600’s higher clock speed: it runs at a fixed 4.20 GHz, whereas the i5 has a 3.30 GHz base and a 3.70 GHz boost.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The G6600 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2500 has 4 cores and 4 threads—meaning the i5 has no hyper-threading, while the G6600 does. Cache configurations also differ: both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core, but the i5 has 6 MB shared L3 versus the G6600’s 4 MB shared L3. The i5’s larger L3 is its one clear architectural advantage, yet it does not yield any benchmark win.

Memory support is a generational split. The G6600 supports DDR4 with dual-channel memory and a stated bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, while the i5 supports DDR3 with dual-channel memory and no bandwidth figure in the data. PCIe support is identical (Gen 3, 16 lanes CPU-only), and both lack ECC memory support. Integrated graphics differ: the G6600 has UHD Graphics 630, while the i5 has Intel HD 2000. The i5’s transistor count is listed at 1,160 million with a die size of 216 mm²; no such figures exist for the G6600.

Production status is a key differentiator. The G6600 is listed as Active, released in 2020, while the i5-2500 is End-of-life, released in 2011. The G6600’s part number is SRH3S; the i5’s is SR00T. Neither has a launch MSRP in the data, and both are locked multipliers.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Pentium Gold G6600 wins all single-core benchmarks. It scores 212 in Cinebench R20 single-core versus the i5-2500’s 206, and 506 in R23 single-core versus 491—a 2.9% and 3.1% lead, respectively.

Q: Does the Core i5-2500’s 4-core advantage help it in multi-core workloads?

A: No. Despite having 4 cores to the G6600’s 2, the i5-2500 loses every multi-core test. The G6600 leads by 3.1% in Cinebench R15 (361 vs 350) and R20 (1507 vs 1461), and by 3.2% in R23 (3589 vs 3479).

Q: Which CPU is more modern?

A: The Pentium Gold G6600 is the newer part. It was released in 2020, uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm node, and is listed as Active in production. The Core i5-2500 is from 2011, uses Sandy Bridge on 32 nm, and is End-of-life.

Q: What memory types do these CPUs support?

A: The G6600 supports DDR4 memory, while the i5-2500 supports DDR3. Both use dual-channel memory buses, but only the G6600 has a listed bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Core i5-2500 wins?

A: In the head-to-head benchmark set, the i5-2500 wins zero tests. The G6600 wins all five Cinebench comparisons. The i5 does have additional Geekbench scores (1883 multi-core, 670 single-core) that the G6600 lacks, but these are not head-to-head comparisons.

Q: Do both CPUs have the same performance percentile?

A: Yes, both are at the 34th percentile versus all CPUs in the database. Their average benchmark scores are close: 1235 for the G6600 and 1220 for the i5-2500.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every core specification. The G6600 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the i5-2500 has 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 4.20 GHz for the G6600 and 3.30 GHz for the i5, with the i5 adding a 3.70 GHz boost clock that the G6600 lacks. TDPs are 58 W for the G6600 and 95 W for the i5.

Sockets are incompatible: the G6600 uses Intel Socket 1200, while the i5 uses Intel Socket 1155. Process nodes are 14 nm versus 32 nm. The i5 has data on transistors (1,160 million) and die size (216 mm²); the G6600 does not. L3 cache is 4 MB shared on the G6600 versus 6 MB shared on the i5; L1 and L2 are identical at 64 KB and 256 KB per core.

Memory support differs: DDR4 for the G6600, DDR3 for the i5. The G6600 lists a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s; the i5 has no such figure. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 630 versus Intel HD 2000. Release dates are 2020 for the G6600 and 2011 for the i5. Production status is Active versus End-of-life. Part numbers are SRH3S and SR00T, respectively. Both are locked, lack ECC, and use Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are a clean sweep for the Pentium Gold G6600, with five wins and zero losses. The most decisive victory is in Cinebench R23 multi-core, where the G6600 scores 3589 against the i5-2500’s 3479—a 3.2% margin. This is the largest delta in the set, and it is notable because the i5 has twice the physical cores. The G6600’s higher clock speed and newer architecture overcome the core deficit.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the G6600 scores 361 versus 350, a 3.1% lead. The same 3.1% margin appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core (1507 vs 1461). Single-core results are slightly tighter but still favor the G6600: 212 vs 206 in R20 (2.9%) and 506 vs 491 in R23 (3.1%). The consistency of the margin—between 2.9% and 3.2% across all tests—suggests a uniform performance advantage rather than workload-specific strengths.

The i5-2500’s only additional benchmark data are Geekbench scores: 1883 multi-core and 670 single-core. These are not part of the head-to-head set, so they cannot be compared directly. However, the i5’s average benchmark score of 1220 is 1.2% lower than the G6600’s 1235. In the nearest rivals list, the G6600 is compared to the i5-2500 with a deltaPct of 1.2%, confirming that the G6600 sits 1.2% above the i5 in average performance.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium Gold G6600 wins in every measured category. For multi-threaded rendering, it leads by 3.1% in Cinebench R15 and R20, and by 3.2% in R23. For single-threaded tasks, it leads by 2.9% in R20 and 3.1% in R23. If you are running Cinebench or similar workloads, the G6600 is the faster chip without exception. It also wins on efficiency, with a 58 W TDP versus the i5-2500’s 95 W, meaning it delivers more performance while drawing less power.

The Core i5-2500 has no benchmark wins to claim. Its advantages are structural rather than measured: it offers 4 physical cores versus 2, a larger 6 MB L3 cache, and a boost clock feature. These could theoretically benefit software that is highly cache-sensitive or that uses more than 2 cores without hyper-threading. However, the data shows no such benefit materializing in any test. The i5 also has a lower average benchmark score (1220 vs 1235) and an identical 34th percentile ranking.

For use-case selection, the G6600 is the right choice for any workload represented by the Cinebench suite—which includes 3D rendering and general CPU compute. The i5-2500 might be considered for legacy systems on Socket 1155 or for DDR3 memory platforms, but the performance data does not support choosing it for speed. The G6600 is also the only one of the two that is still in active production, making it the more viable option for new builds. In every head-to-head test, the G6600 wins, and that is the definitive answer from this dataset.