Core i5-3380M vs Pentium Gold 6500Y

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 i5-3380M vs Pentium Gold 6500Y 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 i5-3380M vs Pentium Gold 6500Y: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i5-3380M

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +5.0% higher average FPS across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 4000, while Pentium Gold 6500Y needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,938 vs 2,966).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 4 MB).

Pentium Gold 6500Y

2021

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i5-3380M across 34 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-3380M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold 6500Y better than Core i5-3380M?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-3380M is ahead with a 5.0% average FPS lead across 34 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold 6500Y pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark. Pentium Gold 6500Y also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold 6500Y is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

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

Pentium Gold 6500Y still makes the most sense overall. Pentium Gold 6500Y comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1% better PassMark.

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

Pentium Gold 6500Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2021 vs 2013), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB), 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 i5-3380M vs Pentium Gold 6500Y Technical Specifications

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

Core i5-3380M

The Core i5-3380M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,938 points. Launch price was $69.

Pentium Gold 6500Y

The Pentium Gold 6500Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,966 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Core i5-3380M and Pentium Gold 6500Y share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-3380M versus 3.4 GHz on the Pentium Gold 6500Y — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-3380M (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i5-3380M uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium Gold 6500Y uses Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-3380M scores 2,938 against the Pentium Gold 6500Y's 2,966 — a 0.9% lead for the Pentium Gold 6500Y. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3380M vs 4 MB on the Pentium Gold 6500Y.

Feature	Core i5-3380M	Pentium Gold 6500Y
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+6%	3.4 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+164%	1.1 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	4 MB+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	512 kB+100%
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)	Amber Lake-Y (2018−2021)
PassMark	2,938	2,966
Geekbench 6 Single	700	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,600	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i5-3380M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold 6500Y uses FCBGA1515 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i5-3380M	Pentium Gold 6500Y
Socket	PGA988	FCBGA1515
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0+33%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3380M) / not specified (Pentium Gold 6500Y). The Core i5-3380M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Pentium Gold 6500Y requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3380M targets Business Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i5-3380M rivals AMD A10-4600M.