Intel Pentium Gold G6400 10th gen Dual Core 4.0 GHz Comet Lake Processor

Intel Pentium Gold G6400 10th gen Comet Lake Processor

Features:

The Intel Pentium Gold G6400 is a budget-oriented dual-core processor based on the 14nm manufacturing process. Here are some features of the processor:

• Dual-Core architecture with 4.0 GHz clock speed.
• 10th generation Intel Pentium Gold series.
• Comet Lake architecture based on 14nm process technology.
• Supports up to 64GB DDR4 memory.
• Intel UHD Graphics 610 integrated GPU.
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology support.
• Supports Intel Optane memory technology.
• Supports Intel vPro technology for enterprise use.
• Socket LGA 1200 compatibility.

This processor is aimed at budget-oriented desktops and all-in-one PCs and is suitable for basic tasks such as web browsing, office work, and multimedia playback. It may not be suitable for demanding applications like gaming, video editing, and demanding multitasking scenarios.

Intel Pentium Gold G6400 Processor Review

Intel’s 2020 introduction of the LGA1200 desktop platform has been an interesting entry for PC builders and upgrades to weigh. The 10th generation Intel desktop processors delivered increased performance over the outgoing LGA1151 platform, pushing chips like the Core i9-10900K to the forefront, with 10 cores and turbo speeds above 5 GHz. But not everyone needs a jet-fuel CPU, and the 10th-generation Intel, which will soon be enhanced by 11th-generation “Rocket Lake” chips, runs all the way down to the humdrum Celerons, and the Pentium Gold G6400, a quiet coup of around $ 65. Although the chip does not stand out from the latest generation Pentium listings, the new one will be prominent here in early 2021.

Before I look at the specifications of this modest processor, I should make it clear that this chip is not too much new, either here in 2021 (it was introduced in mid-2020) or when you look at it against the generation before it. It’s virtually identical to the Pentium G5000 series processors that are still available (if you hunt a bit for them) for Intel’s outgoing LGA1151 platform. As you will see later in the reference index in this review, it also performs much the same as the older chips.

Finally, you may be wondering why you should consider the Pentium Gold G6400 at all, if it is the same as Intel’s latest generation Pentiums. In fact, if you have a compatible LGA1151 motherboard, you will not get nearly enough raw performance with a new LGA1200 card and the latest Pentium Gold to make it worth the trouble. For the most part, these components should be viewed in the same way, and when you decide between the two, it can come down to which motherboard and CPU you can get at the lowest price (or what hardware you already own).

The only definite benefits of buying one of these newer Pentiums come from the motherboard you use, as there may be some notable component-level improvements there. Many OEMs have chosen to use 2.5 Gbit Ethernet controllers on their better LGA1200 motherboards, for example, which provides a nice upgrade over the single-gigabit controllers that were ubiquitous on LGA1151 cards. Having an LGA1200 card also means you will be able to upgrade to an advanced processor down the road, such as the top-end Core i9-10900K or probably one of the upcoming 11th-generation Rocket Lake chips.