Intel Pentium 6805 vs Intel Pentium Gold G6500 Comparison

The Intel Pentium Gold G6500 and the Intel Pentium 6805 are both 2-core, 4-thread processors, but they are engineered for entirely different environments. The G6500 is a desktop part built on the Comet Lake architecture, while the 6805 is a mobile chip using the Ice Lake architecture. Despite their similar average benchmark scores—1101 for the G6500 and 1099 for the 6805—the head-to-head data reveals a clear and consistent performance advantage for the mobile part in every single benchmark recorded. The data shows that the Pentium 6805 wins all five head-to-head comparisons, making it the superior choice for raw compute performance, while the G6500 offers a desktop platform with a different set of trade-offs.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split between these two CPUs is not a matter of different strengths in different tasks; it is a complete victory for the Intel Pentium 6805 in every measured workload. The head-to-head benchmark suite includes both multi-core and single-core tests from the Cinebench series, and the 6805 wins all of them. This indicates that the 6805’s architectural advantages in Ice Lake are not limited to a specific type of workload but provide a broad uplift across the board.

The Intel Pentium Gold G6500, by contrast, does not win any of the recorded benchmark comparisons. Its strengths lie outside of raw compute performance, resting instead in its platform characteristics. As a desktop processor with an Intel Socket 1200, it is designed for systems where upgradeability and standard desktop components are priorities. Its higher 58-watt TDP suggests a more conventional power envelope for a desktop part, whereas the 6805’s 15-watt TDP is indicative of a low-power mobile design. The G6500 also features a base clock of 4.10 GHz, which is significantly higher than the 6805's 1.10 GHz base clock, though the 6805 compensates with a boost clock of 3.00 GHz. The data does not show any benchmark where the G6500’s higher base clock translates into a performance win, with the 6805’s architecture providing the decisive edge.

For users comparing these two, the choice is clear from a performance standpoint: the Pentium 6805 is the winner in all recorded Cinebench tests. The G6500’s appeal must be found in its desktop platform, which offers a standard socket and the ability to pair with a wider range of components, rather than in its benchmark results.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent different generations and design philosophies from Intel. The Pentium Gold G6500 is built on the Comet Lake architecture, using Intel’s 14 nm process node. In contrast, the Pentium 6805 is based on the Ice Lake architecture, specifically the Ice Lake-Y variant, and is manufactured on Intel’s 10 nm process node. This process difference is significant, as the 10 nm node allows for greater transistor density and efficiency, which contributes to the 6805’s superior performance per clock.

The memory support also differs. Both support DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, but the Pentium 6805 offers a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s compared to the G6500’s 42.7 GB/s. This increased bandwidth can benefit memory-intensive workloads and is a likely factor in the 6805’s multi-core performance lead.

Cache configurations show some variation. The G6500 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 256 KB of L2 cache per core, with 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Pentium 6805 has a larger L1 cache at 80 KB per core, the same 256 KB of L2 per core, and the same 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The larger L1 cache in the 6805 may contribute to its better single-core performance in the Cinebench tests.

Other features differ as well. The G6500 uses integrated UHD Graphics 630, while the 6805 has UHD Graphics with 32 execution units. The G6500 is a desktop part with a TDP of 58 watts and an Intel Socket 1200, while the 6805 is a mobile part with a TDP of 15 watts and an Intel BGA 1526 socket. The 6805 has a listed die size of 123 mm², while the G6500’s die size is not specified. The G6500 offers Gen 3 PCIe with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the 6805 also uses Gen 3 PCIe but without a specified lane count. The 6805 was released later, on 2020-09-30, compared to the G6500’s 2020-04-29 release date.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data provides a consistent picture: the Intel Pentium 6805 outperforms the Pentium Gold G6500 by approximately 16% in every test. This consistency suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific win.

In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the G6500 scores 322 points, while the 6805 scores 383 points. This results in a delta of -15.9% for the G6500, meaning the 6805 is about 16% faster. The same pattern appears in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the G6500 scores 1343 and the 6805 scores 1596, again a -15.9% delta.

Single-core performance follows the same trend. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the G6500 scores 189, while the 6805 scores 225, a delta of -16%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the G6500 scores 451, and the 6805 scores 536, a -15.9% difference. The Cinebench R23 multi-core test shows the G6500 at 3199 and the 6805 at 3801, with a -15.8% delta.

The nearest rivals data confirms that these two chips are closely matched in overall average score, with the G6500 averaging 1101 and the 6805 averaging 1099. The delta between them is only 0.2% in favor of the G6500, based on the average of all benchmark scores. However, this average score includes a broader set of tests beyond the head-to-head Cinebench suite, which may include different workload types. In the specific Cinebench tests where both are measured, the 6805 is consistently ahead by a clear margin. The G6500’s nearest rival, the Pentium Gold G6605, scores 1103 with a -0.2% delta, while the 6805’s nearest rival, the Core i5-3450S, scores 1099 with a 0% delta, reinforcing how close the overall average scores are.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Pentium 6805 is the faster processor in every single benchmark comparison. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with a performance advantage of roughly 16% in both single-core and multi-core workloads. For any task that depends on raw CPU performance—such as rendering, video encoding, or general productivity—the 6805 is the clear choice based on the benchmark results.

The Pentium Gold G6500, however, should not be dismissed entirely. Its role is defined by its platform. As a desktop processor with a 58-watt TDP and an Intel Socket 1200, it is intended for systems where the user may want to upgrade the CPU later or use standard desktop components. The 6805, with its 15-watt TDP and BGA 1526 socket, is a soldered mobile part, typically found in laptops where upgradeability is not an option. The G6500 also has a much higher base clock of 4.10 GHz, which may appeal to users who prefer high base frequencies for lightly threaded tasks, even though the data shows the 6805 still wins in single-core Cinebench tests.

From the benchmark data alone, the Pentium 6805 is the superior processor for performance. The G6500’s value lies in its desktop ecosystem. The 6805 has a launch MSRP of $161, which may be stated once, but no such price is listed for the G6500. The G6500 remains in active production, while the 6805 is marked as end-of-life. Users seeking a mobile or low-power solution with better performance should choose the 6805. Users who require a desktop socket and a standard power envelope, and who prioritize platform flexibility over the 16% performance delta, may prefer the G6500.

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Pentium 6805 is faster in multi-core performance. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3801 compared to the Pentium Gold G6500’s 3199, a delta of -15.8% for the G6500.

Q: How does single-core performance compare between the two?

A: The Pentium 6805 also wins in single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the 6805 scores 536, while the G6500 scores 451, giving the 6805 a 15.9% advantage.

Q: Are these processors similar in overall average benchmark scores?

A: Yes, the average benchmark scores are nearly identical. The G6500 has an average score of 1101, and the 6805 has an average score of 1099, a difference of just 0.2%.

Q: What are the key architectural differences?

A: The G6500 uses the Comet Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, while the 6805 uses the Ice Lake architecture on a 10 nm process. The 6805 also has a larger L1 cache of 80 KB per core versus 64 KB per core, and a higher memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s versus 42.7 GB/s.

Q: Which processor has a higher TDP?

A: The Pentium Gold G6500 has a TDP of 58 watts, while the Pentium 6805 has a much lower TDP of 15 watts. This reflects the G6500’s desktop design and the 6805’s mobile, low-power design.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The Pentium Gold G6500 is listed as Active in production, while the Pentium 6805 is listed as End-of-life.