Intel Pentium E6500

The Intel Pentium E6500 is a 45nm Wolfdale desktop processor with 2 cores and 2 threads at a fixed 2.93GHz base clock. It carries a 65W TDP and uses Intel Socket 775. Benchmark placement is very low: the E6500 sits at the 2nd percentile of all CPUs and returns an average benchmark score of 343. The nearest rivals produce average scores between 341 and 345, with deltas ranging from -0.6% to +0.6%. This is a legacy dual-core part from the Pentium Dual-Core (Wolfdale) generation, and its performance position is defined by modest single-thread figures and a small multicore ceiling.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior — what the split means for real workloads

With 2 cores and 2 threads, the E6500 has no SMT assistance, so every software thread maps to a physical core. In the R20 run, the multicore score is 419 and the single-core score is 59. In R23, the multicore score is 998 and the single-core score is 141. The R15 multicore score is 100; no R15 single-core figure is listed. For workloads that can use both cores, the multicore results are clearly stronger than the single-core results, but the single-thread ceiling is low: the R20 single-core score of 59 is the smallest Cinebench value in the record.

Because there is no boost clock and the multiplier is locked, a single-threaded task runs at a fixed 2.93GHz and cannot gain frequency headroom. The cache layout reinforces this: there is no L3 cache, and the L2 is 2 MB shared between the 2 cores. The practical meaning is simple: the E6500 can make use of the extra core, but it is a low-throughput part in both single- and multi-threaded tasks. Software that is lightly threaded will see the single-core limitation directly, while software that can spread work across both physical cores will produce the higher multicore figures shown in the R20 and R23 runs.

Power and Thermals — TDP class, what cooling tier it implies

The 65W TDP places the E6500 in a modest desktop power class. The 45nm process, 228 million transistors, and 82mm² die are the physical characteristics behind that envelope. With no boost clock and a locked multiplier, power draw is not burst-oriented; the CPU runs at a fixed 2.93GHz in all scenarios. The cooling tier implied by the data is a standard air cooler, not a high-end cooling solution. At 65W, the thermal load is modest enough for typical Socket 775 boards, and the end-of-life status does not change the operating constraints.

The lack of a boost clock also means that the maximum frequency is the same as the base clock, so there is no temporary thermal spike from a higher turbo state. The locked multiplier prevents raising the clock through software, which keeps the power profile predictable. For a platform of this age, the data points to a straightforward cooling requirement: a conventional 775-socket cooler is sufficient.

Benchmark Performance — analyze scores vs rivals with exact % deltas

The E6500’s average benchmark score is 343, placing it at the 2nd percentile of all CPUs. The Cinebench results are R15 multicore 100, R20 multicore 419, R20 single-core 59, R23 multicore 998, and R23 single-core 141. The strongest listed Cinebench figure is 998 in R23 multicore, but the 2nd-percentile ranking shows that even that result is low in the overall database.

The nearest rivals confirm a dense cluster. The AMD Athlon II X2 250 has an average score of 343 with a delta of -0.1%, so the E6500 is within rounding distance of it. The Intel Celeron G540 averages 342 with a delta of 0.4%; the E6500 is 0.4% faster. The AMD A4-3330MX averages 345 with a delta of -0.6%; the E6500 trails by 0.6%. The Intel Core i7-640UM averages 341 with a delta of 0.6%; the E6500 is 0.6% ahead. The largest delta in this group is 0.6%, meaning none of these rivals offers a meaningful performance separation from the E6500.

Benchmark results indicate that the E6500 is not an outlier relative to its nearest competition; it sits inside a narrow band of similarly low-scoring CPUs. The average scores of the four nearest rivals span 341 to 345, and the E6500’s 343 places it almost exactly in the middle. This is a tightly grouped performance tier, and the deltas are too small to change the overall recommendation.

Who Should Consider It — workload-based recommendations (gaming, creation, office) grounded in the scores

Office and lightly threaded desktop workloads fit the E6500’s shape: the R23 single-core score of 141 and R20 single-core score of 59 are usable for basic tasks, while the R23 multicore score of 998 and R20 multicore score of 419 provide the benefit of the extra core. Creation workloads such as rendering are poorly matched to a 2-thread CPU, because the multicore scores remain low in absolute terms. Gaming is similarly constrained by the fixed 2.93GHz clock, the lack of a boost clock, and the 2nd-percentile overall ranking.

The E6500 can still serve in legacy Socket 775 systems, especially where the motherboard chipset provides integrated graphics. Its memory support for DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 gives board-level flexibility, but the end-of-life production status means it is not a forward-looking selection. The dual-channel memory bus is useful for everyday workloads, while the absence of ECC support keeps it in the consumer desktop segment. Users whose workloads are single-threaded will be limited by the R20 single-core score of 59 and R23 single-core score of 141; users with parallel workloads will hit the 2-thread ceiling quickly.

FAQ

Q: When was the Intel Pentium E6500 released?

A: The data records a release date of 2009-08-08.

Q: How many cores and threads does the E6500 have?

A: It has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: What is the thermal design power?

A: The TDP is 65W.

Q: Does the E6500 support ECC memory?

A: No; the ECC memory field is false.

Q: What socket does it use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 775.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No; the multiplier is locked.

Platform and Compatibility — socket, memory support, PCIe, upgrade path

The E6500 is built for Intel Socket 775 and is part of the Core 2 architecture with the Wolfdale codename and the Pentium Dual-Core (Wolfdale) generation. The part number is SLGUH. Cache is 64KB L1 per core and 2MB shared L2. Memory support is DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 over a dual-channel bus, and ECC memory is not supported. The PCIe interface is Gen 2. Integrated graphics are listed as a chipset feature on certain motherboards rather than as part of the CPU.

The multiplier is locked, and the production status is end-of-life. Within Socket 775, the upgrade path depends on board compatibility, but no new supply is indicated by the end-of-life status. The dual-channel memory bus and the broad memory-type support give the E6500 flexibility across older motherboards, but the CPU’s 2nd-percentile performance means compatibility is more useful than performance potential. There is no L3 cache listed, so the memory hierarchy consists only of the per-core L1 and the shared 2MB L2.

How It Compares

Against the AMD Athlon II X2 250, the E6500 is practically tied. The Athlon’s average score is 343 and the delta is -0.1%, so neither CPU has a real advantage in the database.

Against the Intel Celeron G540, the E6500 is 0.4% faster. The Celeron’s average score is 342, placing both parts in the same performance band.

Against the AMD A4-3330MX, the E6500 trails by 0.6%. The A4’s average score of 345 is the highest in the rival group, yet the margin remains small.

Against the Intel Core i7-640UM, the E6500 is 0.6% ahead. The i7-640UM’s average score of 341 is the lowest in the rival group, so the E6500 sits at the upper edge of the cluster.