Core i3-8130U vs Pentium Gold G6400T

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 i3-8130U vs Pentium Gold G6400T 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 i3-8130U vs Pentium Gold G6400T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-8130U

2018

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 620, while Pentium Gold G6400T needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,521 vs 3,544).

Pentium Gold G6400T

2020

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-8130U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold G6400T better than Core i3-8130U?

Yes. Pentium Gold G6400T is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% 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 G6400T is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.3% 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 G6400T is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Pentium Gold G6400T still makes the most sense overall. Pentium Gold G6400T comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Pentium Gold G6400T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2018) 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 i3-8130U vs Pentium Gold G6400T Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-8130U

The Core i3-8130U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 13 February 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,521 points. Launch price was $281.

Pentium Gold G6400T

The Pentium Gold G6400T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency: 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 3,544 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i3-8130U and Pentium Gold G6400T share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. The Core i3-8130U is built on the Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i3-8130U scores 3,521 against the Pentium Gold G6400T's 3,544 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium Gold G6400T. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-8130U vs 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Pentium Gold G6400T.

Feature	Core i3-8130U	Pentium Gold G6400T
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz	—
Base Clock	2.2 GHz	3.4 GHz+55%
L3 Cache	4 MB (total)	4 MB Intel® Smart Cache
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	—
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake Refresh (2017−2019)	—
PassMark	3,521	3,544
Geekbench 6 Single	1,050	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-8130U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold G6400T uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-8130U	Pentium Gold G6400T
Socket	BGA1356	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	12	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8130U) / not specified (Pentium Gold G6400T). The Core i3-8130U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Pentium Gold G6400T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8130U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-8130U rivals Ryzen 3 2200U.