Core i5-3340 vs Pentium Gold G6500

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 i5-3340 vs Pentium Gold G6500 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 i5-3340 vs Pentium Gold G6500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-3340

2013

Why buy it

✅+1.5% higher PassMark.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium Gold G6500 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $182 MSRP, while Pentium Gold G6500 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌32.8% higher power demand at 77W vs 58W.

Pentium Gold G6500

2020

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 58W instead of 77W, a 19W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (4,185 vs 4,249).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (4 MB vs 6 MB).

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold G6500 better than Core i5-3340?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium Gold G6500 is ahead with a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3340 pulls ahead with 1.5% better PassMark. Core i5-3340 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-3340 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 4 MB).

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

Pentium Gold G6500 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Gold G6500 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $182 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-3340 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2013 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (23.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1155.

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

Pentium Gold G6500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i5-3340 vs Pentium Gold G6500 Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-3340

The Core i5-3340 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2013 (12 years ago). It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 77 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 4,249 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.

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Processing Power

The Core i5-3340 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium Gold G6500 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-3340 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-3340 versus 4.1 GHz on the Pentium Gold G6500 — a 21.6% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold G6500 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 4.1 GHz). The Pentium Gold G6500 is built on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i5-3340 scores 4,249 against the Pentium Gold G6500's 4,185 — a 1.5% lead for the Core i5-3340. L3 cache: 6 MB Intel® Smart Cache on the Core i5-3340 vs 4 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold G6500.

Feature	Core i5-3340	Pentium Gold G6500
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz	4.1 GHz+24%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	4.1 GHz+32%
L3 Cache	6 MB Intel® Smart Cache+50%	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	—	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	—	Comet Lake (2020−2025)
PassMark	4,249+2%	4,185

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-3340 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold G6500 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.