Intel Core i3-6300

The Intel Core i3-6300 is a desktop processor built on the Skylake architecture, with two cores, four threads, and a 3.80 GHz base clock. It has no boost clock and is manufactured on Intel's 14 nm process. Its average benchmark score is 1065, placing it in the 29th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest listed rivals are all within 0.1% to 0.4% of that average score.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark record for the Core i3-6300 covers Cinebench R15, R20, and R23 in both multicore and single-core modes. In Cinebench R15, the multicore score is 371 and the single-core score is 52. In Cinebench R20, the multicore score is 1546 and the single-core score is 218. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 3683 and the single-core score is 520.

The aggregate figure across the benchmark set is an average score of 1065. That places the processor in the 29th percentile of all CPUs in the database, which is a below-median overall position. The nearestRivals data shows a very tight cluster around that number. The Intel Xeon W3580 averages 1064, and the delta is 0.1%. The Intel Core i5-2380P and Intel Core i7-2675QM both average 1063, each with a delta of 0.2%. The AMD Opteron 4376 HE averages 1061, with a delta of 0.4%. In aggregate terms, the i3-6300 is effectively tied with its nearest rivals; the largest gap in the group is just 0.4%.

The single-core results are modest in absolute terms, but they are the strongest part of the processor's profile relative to its multi-core standing. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 520 and the R20 single-core score of 218 reflect the 3.80 GHz base clock and the per-core capability of the Skylake design. The multi-core scores of 3683 in R23 and 1546 in R20 are consistent with a part that has two physical cores and four threads. The 29th-percentile ranking indicates that most processors in the database score higher, but the nearest rivals are all within a fraction of a percent, so the i3-6300 sits at the top of its immediate comparison group.

Platform and Compatibility

The Core i3-6300 uses Intel Socket 1151 and belongs to the Core i3 (Skylake) generation; both the architecture and codename are Skylake. It is built by Intel on a 14 nm process, with 1,400 million transistors and a die size of 150 mm². The cache hierarchy consists of 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3. This is a desktop-market part, and its production status is Active.

Memory support is DDR4 over a dual-channel interface, with a memory bandwidth rating of 34.1 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported. The CPU provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, described as CPU only. Integrated graphics are provided by Intel HD 530, so display output does not require a discrete graphics card, although the 16 CPU-attached PCIe lanes are the primary expansion interface for add-in cards.

The multiplier is locked, and there is no boost clock listed. That means the 3.80 GHz base clock is the only operating frequency state in the data. For upgrade planning, the socket is the main compatibility constraint: the processor is specified for Intel Socket 1151, and the memory controller is fixed to dual-channel DDR4. The locked multiplier limits frequency-based tuning, so any performance uplift beyond this CPU's rated state would need to come from a different processor on the same platform rather than from clock adjustment.

How It Compares

Intel Xeon W3580: The Xeon W3580 is the closest listed rival, with an average score of 1064. The i3-6300 leads by 0.1%, the smallest delta in the nearestRivals group. This is close enough that aggregate benchmark performance is effectively identical between the two.

Intel Core i5-2380P: The Core i5-2380P averages 1063, trailing by 0.2%. The i3-6300 sits ahead in the aggregate data by a narrow margin, and the two processors occupy the same overall performance tier.

Intel Core i7-2675QM: The Core i7-2675QM also averages 1063, with a delta of 0.2%. Its average score is identical to the i5-2380P's average score, and both are behind the i3-6300 by the same amount.

AMD Opteron 4376 HE: The Opteron 4376 HE averages 1061, trailing by 0.4%. That is the largest gap among the four nearest rivals, but it remains a small separation in aggregate performance. The i3-6300 is the highest-scoring processor in this nearestRivals cluster.

FAQ

Q: Does the Core i3-6300 have a boost clock?

A: No. The data lists no boost clock, and the base clock is 3.80 GHz.

Q: What memory configuration does the Core i3-6300 support?

A: It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, with a memory bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does the Core i3-6300 include integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 530.

Q: Is the Core i3-6300 multiplier unlocked?

A: No. The multiplier is locked, and there is no boost clock listed, so the 3.80 GHz base clock is the rated frequency.

Q: What is the production status of the Core i3-6300?

A: The production status is Active, and the release date is 2015-08-31.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does the Core i3-6300 provide?

A: It provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, and those lanes are listed as CPU only.

Power and Thermals

The thermal design power of the Core i3-6300 is 51 W. That TDP places it in a modest desktop thermal envelope. The 14 nm process and 150 mm² die are the physical characteristics behind that power target, and the locked multiplier removes overclocking as a factor in thermal design.

Because there is no boost clock, the processor does not have a second, higher frequency state in the data. Thermal load is therefore tied to the 3.80 GHz base clock rather than to a boosted or overclocked condition. The 51 W TDP implies that a capable air cooler is sufficient for the processor's heat output; the chip does not belong to the cooling tier associated with high-TDP desktop parts.