Core i3-8140U vs Pentium Gold G6500

Core i3-8140U

2 Cores4 Thrd15 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2019

Pentium Gold G6500

2 Cores4 Thrd58 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2020

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-8140U

2 / 4

4,227

+1.0%

4,185

0.0%

About PassMark

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i3-8140U is positioned at rank #530 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8140U

#167

Core Ultra 7 258V

MSRP: $450|Avg: $400

100%

#169

Core i7-1280P

MSRP: $482|Avg: $482

98%

#518

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

694%

#519

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

684%

#520

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

628%

#521

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

625%

#522

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

619%

#524

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

598%

#525

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

573%

#526

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

573%

#527

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

557%

#530

Core i3-8140U

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Pentium Gold G6500 leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i3-8140U is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 1% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Core i3-8140U	Pentium Gold G6500
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing
Longevity	✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm)	✨ Modern (Comet Lake (2020−2025) / 14 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core i3-8140U	Pentium Gold G6500
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i3-8140U Benchmark Check

Pentium Gold G6500 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-8140U and Pentium Gold G6500

Core i3-8140U

The Core i3-8140U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2019 (6 years ago). It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 4,227 points. Launch price was $69.

Pentium Gold G6500

The Pentium Gold G6500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 4.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 4,185 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-8140U and Pentium Gold G6500 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-8140U versus 4.1 GHz on the Pentium Gold G6500 — a 5% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold G6500 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Pentium Gold G6500 is built on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i3-8140U scores 4,227 against the Pentium Gold G6500's 4,185 — a 1% lead for the Core i3-8140U. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i3-8140U vs 4 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold G6500.

Feature	Core i3-8140U	Pentium Gold G6500
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.9 GHz	4.1 GHz+5%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	4.1 GHz+95%
L3 Cache	4 MB Intel® Smart Cache	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	—	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	4,227+1%	4,185
Geekbench 6 Single	1,225	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-8140U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold G6500 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-8140U	Pentium Gold G6500
Socket	FCBGA1528	LGA1200
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	❌	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8140U) / not specified (Pentium Gold G6500). The Core i3-8140U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Pentium Gold G6500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8140U targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i3-8140U rivals Ryzen 3 3300U.