Core i3-8145U vs Pentium Gold G6405

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 i3-8145U vs Pentium Gold G6405 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 i3-8145U vs Pentium Gold G6405: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-8145U

2018

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 620, while Pentium Gold G6405 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium Gold G6405 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,781 vs 3,817).

Pentium Gold G6405

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-8145U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold G6405 better than Core i3-8145U?

Yes. Pentium Gold G6405 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1% 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 G6405 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.9% 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 G6405 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Pentium Gold G6405 still makes the most sense overall. Pentium Gold G6405 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Pentium Gold G6405 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 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 i3-8145U vs Pentium Gold G6405 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-8145U

The Core i3-8145U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,781 points. Launch price was $281.

Pentium Gold G6405

The Pentium Gold G6405 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 16 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Comet Lake-R (2021) 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: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 3,817 points. Launch price was $64.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i3-8145U and Pentium Gold G6405 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Core i3-8145U versus 4.1 GHz on the Pentium Gold G6405 — a 5% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold G6405 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Core i3-8145U uses the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium Gold G6405 uses Comet Lake-R (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-8145U scores 3,781 against the Pentium Gold G6405's 3,817 — a 0.9% lead for the Pentium Gold G6405. Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i3-8145U	Pentium Gold G6405
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 (total)	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256 kB (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019)	Comet Lake-R (2021)
PassMark	3,781	3,817

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-8145U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold G6405 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-8145U	Pentium Gold G6405
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	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-8145U) / not specified (Pentium Gold G6405). The Core i3-8145U includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 620), while the Pentium Gold G6405 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-8145U targets Mobile.