
Pentium P6100 vs Core i5-650

Pentium P6100

Core i5-650
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Pentium P6100 is positioned at rank 825 and the Core i5-650 is on rank 946, so the Pentium P6100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium P6100
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-650
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium P6100 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($16.39) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium P6100 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+34%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($16.39) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) |
Performance Check
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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium P6100 and Core i5-650

Pentium P6100
The Pentium P6100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,245 points. Launch price was $12.

Core i5-650
The Core i5-650 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,254 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
The Pentium P6100 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-650's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Pentium P6100 versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-650 — a 53.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-650 (base: 2 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Pentium P6100 uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i5-650 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium P6100 scores 2,245 against the Core i5-650's 2,254 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-650. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium P6100 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-650.
| Feature | Pentium P6100 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 3.46 GHz+73% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 3.2 GHz+60% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,245 | 2,254 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium P6100 uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-650 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium P6100 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium P6100 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Core i5-650 debuted at $176. At current prices ($16.39 vs $22), the Pentium P6100 is $6 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium P6100 delivers 137.0 pts/$ vs 102.5 pts/$ for the Core i5-650 — making the Pentium P6100 the 28.8% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium P6100 | Core i5-650 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-43% | $176 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $16.39-25% | $22 |
| Performance per Dollar | 137.0+34% | 102.5 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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