Core i3-6102E vs Pentium Gold 5405U

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Core i3-6102E vs Pentium Gold 5405U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-6102E vs Pentium Gold 5405U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-6102E

2015

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 530, while Pentium Gold 5405U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,349 vs 2,357).
❌Launch MSRP is still $225 MSRP, while Pentium Gold 5405U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌66.7% higher power demand at 25W vs 15W.

Pentium Gold 5405U

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 25W, a 10W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 3 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-6102E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold 5405U better than Core i3-6102E?

Yes. Pentium Gold 5405U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium Gold 5405U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold 5405U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium Gold 5405U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Gold 5405U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $225 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-6102E only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (10.4 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on that older DDR4-era platform.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium Gold 5405U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-6102E vs Pentium Gold 5405U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i3-6102E

The Core i3-6102E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,349 points. Launch price was $225.

Pentium Gold 5405U

The Pentium Gold 5405U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,357 points. Launch price was $161.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i3-6102E and Pentium Gold 5405U share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Core i3-6102E versus 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Gold 5405U — a 19% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold 5405U. The Core i3-6102E uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium Gold 5405U uses Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6102E scores 2,349 against the Pentium Gold 5405U's 2,357 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium Gold 5405U. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-6102E vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold 5405U.

Feature	Core i3-6102E	Pentium Gold 5405U
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1.9 GHz	2.3 GHz+21%
Base Clock	—	2.3 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB+50%	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019)
PassMark	2,349	2,357

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-6102E) / not specified (Pentium Gold 5405U). The Core i3-6102E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 530), while the Pentium Gold 5405U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6102E targets Embedded.