Intel Core i5-5350U vs Intel Pentium G4600T Comparison

The Intel Core i5-5350U and Intel Pentium G4600T are both 14 nm dual-core parts with four threads, but they are built for entirely different worlds. The i5-5350U is a 15 W mobile chip from the Broadwell generation, while the Pentium G4600T is a 35 W desktop part from the newer Kaby Lake family. Benchmark data shows the Pentium is consistently faster in every tested workload, but the i5 holds advantages in platform features and power characteristics that matter for specific use cases.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Pentium G4600T wins every single benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2602 against the i5-5350U’s 2198, a 15.5% advantage. The single-core gap is nearly identical, with the Pentium posting 367 versus 310 in R23 single-core, also a 15.5% lead. If raw compute throughput is the sole criterion, the Pentium G4600T is the clear choice.

However, the i5-5350U is not without its own merits. Its 15 W TDP is less than half of the Pentium’s 35 W, making it the only viable option for fanless or ultra-portable designs. The i5 also comes with a launch MSRP of $315, though that figure reflects its original mobile positioning rather than current desktop value. The i5-5350U also supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes, while the Pentium offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, giving the desktop part more modern expansion bandwidth.

The verdict hinges on platform. For a desktop build where performance per watt is less critical and PCIe bandwidth matters, the Pentium G4600T wins outright. For a low-power mobile system or an embedded application where 15 W is a hard ceiling, the i5-5350U is the only sensible pick despite its slower benchmark scores. Both CPUs sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, indicating they are entry-level performers in the current landscape.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i5-5350U is built on the Broadwell architecture, specifically the Broadwell-U codename, and belongs to the Core i5 (Broadwell-U) generation. It uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, which is a soldered mobile package. The Pentium G4600T is a Kaby Lake part, belonging to the Pentium (Kaby Lake) generation, and uses the desktop Intel Socket 1151.

Both chips are manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process node, and both feature 2 cores and 4 threads. Cache configurations are identical on paper: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 3 MB of shared L3. The i5-5350U has a base clock of 1800 MHz with a boost clock of 2.90 GHz, while the Pentium G4600T runs at a fixed 3.00 GHz with no boost capability. The Pentium’s higher sustained clock speed is a primary driver of its benchmark advantage.

Memory support differs significantly. The i5-5350U uses DDR3 memory in a dual-channel configuration, yielding 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth. The Pentium G4600T supports DDR4 in dual-channel, reaching 38.4 GB/s. That 28% bandwidth advantage contributes to the Pentium’s superior multi-core scores. Neither chip supports ECC memory.

PCIe connectivity also diverges. The i5-5350U provides PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the Pentium G4600T offers PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The integrated graphics differ as well: the i5 uses Intel HD 6000, while the Pentium ships with Intel HD 630. The i5-5350U is currently end-of-life, while the Pentium G4600T remains in active production. The i5’s die size is 133 mm² with 1,900 million transistors; the Pentium’s die size and transistor count are not listed in the data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Pentium G4600T dominates every benchmark in the comparison, winning all five tested workloads. The margin is remarkably consistent, hovering around 15.5% across the board. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium scores 262 against the i5’s 221, a 15.6% delta. Cinebench R20 multi-core shows 1092 versus 923, a 15.5% difference. The single-core results tell the same story: R20 single-core has the Pentium at 154 and the i5 at 130, also a 15.6% gap.

Cinebench R23 results reinforce the pattern. In multi-core, the Pentium G4600T scores 2602 versus 2198, a 15.5% lead. In single-core, it posts 367 versus 310, again a 15.5% advantage. The consistency of these deltas suggests the Pentium’s higher base clock and faster memory bandwidth translate into a uniform performance uplift across both lightly-threaded and fully-threaded workloads.

The i5-5350U has no benchmark wins in this head-to-head set, though it does have a Geekbench multi-core score of 1671 and a single-core score of 868, which are not directly compared against the Pentium in the provided data. The i5’s average benchmark score is 903, while the Pentium’s is 895, a negligible difference that places them in the same performance tier overall. The i5’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-940 (0% delta), Core i5-4258U (0.1% delta), and AMD A10-7860K (-0.1% delta). The Pentium’s nearest rivals include the Core i5-5300U (0% delta), AMD PRO A10-8770E (0% delta), and AMD Ryzen 3 3200U (0.2% delta).

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The Intel Pentium G4600T wins all multi-core benchmarks. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2602 versus the i5-5350U’s 2198, a 15.5% advantage. The margin is the same in R20 multi-core (1092 vs 923) and R15 multi-core (262 vs 221).

Q: Does the i5-5350U have any single-core advantage?

A: No. The Pentium G4600T also wins single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 367 versus 310, and in R20 single-core it posts 154 versus 130, both representing a 15.5% lead for the Pentium.

Q: What are the TDP differences between the two?

A: The i5-5350U has a TDP of 15 W, while the Pentium G4600T has a TDP of 35 W. The i5 uses less than half the power of the Pentium, making it suitable for low-power mobile designs.

Q: Which processor supports faster memory?

A: The Pentium G4600T supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, while the i5-5350U supports DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s. Both use dual-channel configurations.

Q: Are both processors still in production?

A: No. The i5-5350U is end-of-life, while the Pentium G4600T is listed as active in production. The i5 was released in February 2015, and the Pentium was released in January 2017.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The i5-5350U has an average benchmark score of 903, while the Pentium G4600T has an average score of 895. Both CPUs sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium G4600T wins in every performance category measured. Its 3.00 GHz fixed clock speed, compared to the i5’s 1800 MHz base and 2.90 GHz boost, gives it a sustained frequency advantage that shows up in both single-core and multi-core tests. The Pentium also benefits from newer Kaby Lake architecture and faster DDR4 memory, which explains its consistent 15.5% lead across all Cinebench versions. For desktop users who need maximum compute performance from a dual-core part, the Pentium is the definitive winner.

The i5-5350U wins in power efficiency. Its 15 W TDP is less than half of the Pentium’s 35 W, making it the better choice for thermally constrained environments like ultra-thin laptops, fanless industrial PCs, or battery-powered devices. The i5 also has a smaller die size at 133 mm² and a lower transistor count of 1,900 million, which contributes to its lower power draw. While it loses on raw speed, the i5’s mobile pedigree means it can operate in systems where the Pentium’s higher TDP would be impractical.

The platform differences also favor each chip in different scenarios. The Pentium G4600T uses the desktop Socket 1151 and provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, making it suitable for builds with discrete GPUs or NVMe storage. The i5-5350U uses the soldered BGA 1168 package with PCIe Gen 2 and 12 lanes, which is fine for integrated graphics and basic connectivity but limits expansion options. The i5’s Intel HD 6000 graphics and the Pentium’s Intel HD 630 both provide integrated display output, though the Pentium’s newer graphics architecture is paired with faster system memory.

For users prioritizing upgradeability and active support, the Pentium G4600T’s active production status makes it a safer long-term choice. The i5-5350U is end-of-life, meaning it is no longer manufactured. However, for a fixed-function embedded design or a low-power mobile device where performance targets are modest, the i5-5350U’s 15 W envelope is an advantage no benchmark score can capture. The data shows the Pentium wins on speed, but the i5 wins on efficiency and thermal headroom.