Intel Pentium Gold G6405

The Intel Pentium Gold G6405 is a dual-core, four-thread desktop processor built on the 14 nm Comet Lake architecture, running at a fixed 4.10 GHz base clock with no boost capability. It carries a 58 W TDP, supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, and integrates UHD Graphics 610. With an average benchmark score of 6600 and a 66th percentile ranking among all CPUs, this part occupies a specific niche: it delivers respectable single-threaded performance for everyday tasks while its dual-core layout limits heavy multi-threaded workloads.

Who Should Consider It

The G6405 is best suited for users whose workloads are primarily single-threaded or lightly threaded. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 454 and PassMark single-thread score of 2253 indicate strong per-core efficiency for a low-end desktop chip, making it adequate for office productivity, web browsing, spreadsheet work, and light coding. The PassMark integer math score of 13265 and floating-point math score of 8390 further support responsiveness in typical business applications. For gaming, the processor can handle older or less demanding titles when paired with a discrete GPU, though the integrated UHD Graphics 610 is not intended for modern 3D gaming. The PassMark physics score of 313 is low, suggesting that CPU-bound simulations or physics-heavy games will struggle. Users who rely on multi-threaded creation tools—video editing, 3D rendering, or software compilation—should look elsewhere; the Cinebench R23 multicore score of 3221 and PassMark multithread score of 3790 are modest, and the PassMark data encryption score of 1385 and extended instructions score of 1711 indicate limited throughput for encryption or advanced vector workloads. In short, this is a chip for a basic desktop, home office, or as a low-cost entry point into the LGA 1200 platform.

Power and Thermals

The G6405 has a TDP of 58 W, which is modest by modern desktop standards. Because it has only two cores and a fixed 4.10 GHz clock, it does not require elaborate cooling; a stock Intel cooler or any basic air cooler will suffice. The 14 nm process node is not cutting-edge, but the low core count keeps heat output manageable. The absence of a boost clock means power draw stays constant under load, simplifying thermal management. For a compact or budget-oriented build, the 58 W envelope allows for small power supplies and slim cases without concern. The processor’s integrated UHD Graphics 610 also shares the same thermal budget, so no additional cooling is needed for the iGPU. Overall, thermal requirements are minimal, and the chip runs comfortably in standard desktop environments.

How It Compares

The G6405’s average benchmark score of 6600 places it just behind several high-end processors, as shown by its nearest rivals. Against the Intel Core i7-12800HE, which averages 6615, the G6405 trails by 0.2%. This is a negligible margin, but the i7-12800HE is a mobile-class chip with many more cores and threads; the G6405’s close score is largely due to its strong single-thread performance relative to its limited multi-threading. Compared to the Intel Xeon E5-2699A v4, with an average score of 6623, the G6405 is 0.3% behind. That Xeon is a server part with vastly higher core counts, yet the G6405 holds its own in this composite metric, again reflecting the importance of per-core efficiency. The Intel Core i9-10940X, averaging 6625, is 0.4% ahead of the G6405; despite being a high-end desktop processor, the gap is trivial in this benchmark aggregate. Finally, the Intel Core i9-7960X, with a score of 6638, leads the G6405 by 0.6%. All four rivals are significantly more expensive and power-hungry, but the data shows that the G6405’s average benchmark performance is within a fraction of a percent of these parts—though this is a composite that weights various tasks, and the G6405’s real-world multi-threaded performance is far lower.

FAQ

Q: Does the Intel Pentium Gold G6405 support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What socket does the G6405 use?

A: It uses the Intel Socket 1200.

Q: Does the G6405 have integrated graphics?

A: Yes, it includes Intel UHD Graphics 610.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked; the processor is not unlocked.

Q: What memory type and channel configuration does it support?

A: It supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode, with a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

Q: How many PCIe lanes does the CPU provide?

A: It provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes (CPU only).

Benchmark Performance

The G6405 delivers a Cinebench R15 multicore score of 324 and a Cinebench R20 multicore score of 1352, with a single-core R20 score of 190. In Cinebench R23, it reaches 3221 multicore and 454 single-core. These numbers highlight a wide gap between single- and multi-threaded capability; the single-core scores are respectable for a dual-core part, but the multicore results are constrained by the two physical cores and four threads. PassMark results paint a similar picture: the multithread score is 3790, while single-thread is 2253. The data compression score of 59224 is notably high, suggesting that compression tasks that are not fully parallelized benefit from the strong per-core performance. Conversely, the find prime numbers score of 15 is extremely low, indicating that this workload is heavily multi-threaded and the G6405 cannot handle it efficiently. Floating-point math (8390) and integer math (13265) are moderate, while random string sorting (7456) and data encryption (1385) show average results. The extended instructions score of 1711 reflects limited AVX/AVX2 throughput, which is expected from a low-end dual-core.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the G6405’s average benchmark score of 6600 is within 0.2% of the Core i7-12800HE (6615), 0.3% of the Xeon E5-2699A v4 (6623), 0.4% of the Core i9-10940X (6625), and 0.6% of the Core i9-7960X (6638). These deltas are tiny, but they are misleading in the context of real-world performance because the composite average is heavily influenced by single-threaded tests. In multi-threaded benchmarks, the G6405 would be far behind those rivals, but the aggregate score masks that. The 66th percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates that the G6405 outperforms 66% of the processors in the benchmark database, which is surprising for a dual-core chip—again, a testament to its single-thread efficiency.

Platform and Compatibility

The G6405 is built for the Intel Socket 1200 platform, which supports the Comet Lake family. It is based on the Comet Lake-R architecture and is manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process. The processor supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with a peak bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, though ECC is not available. For expansion, it provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes from the CPU, which is sufficient for a single discrete GPU or a couple of NVMe drives. The integrated UHD Graphics 610 offers basic display output, but for any serious gaming or graphics work a discrete GPU is required. The chip does not have an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking is not possible. It was released on March 15, 2021, and remains in active production. The launch MSRP is $64. The G6405 is a low-cost entry point into the LGA 1200 ecosystem, allowing users to build a basic system with the option to upgrade to a higher-core-count Comet Lake or Rocket Lake processor later, provided the motherboard supports those generations. However, the 16 PCIe lanes are fixed, and the lack of ECC and overclocking may be limiting for some users. Overall, the platform is straightforward and compatible with standard DDR4 memory and common desktop components.