Intel Pentium G6500 Dual Core 4.1GHz Box LGA1200
The Intel Pentium G6500 is a dual core, four thread desktop processor for LGA1200 motherboards, running at 4.1 GHz with Intel UHD Graphics 630 built in.
Part of the Comet Lake generation launched in the second quarter of 2020, the Intel Pentium G6500 is aimed at office PCs, family computers and light-duty systems where a modern platform matters more than core count. Hyper-Threading gives its two cores four threads, so everyday multitasking such as web browsing, email, office documents and video playback stays responsive. The retail box includes an Intel cooler, so it can be fitted without buying a separate heatsink.
Intel Pentium G6500 performance
The processor runs at a 4.1 GHz base frequency. It does not have Turbo Boost, so that figure is also its peak clock, which keeps behaviour predictable and the 58 W thermal design power modest. 4 MB of Intel Smart Cache is shared between the two cores, and the chip supports the SSE4.1 and SSE4.2 instruction extensions, Intel 64, idle C-states and Enhanced Intel SpeedStep. Virtualisation (VT-x, VT-d and EPT) is supported, as are AES New Instructions, Secure Key, OS Guard, Boot Guard and Execute Disable Bit.
Integrated graphics and display outputs
Intel UHD Graphics 630 runs from 350 MHz up to 1.10 GHz and supports DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, Intel Quick Sync Video for hardware video encoding and decoding, Clear Video HD and up to three displays at once. Maximum resolution is 4096 x 2304 at 60 Hz over DisplayPort and 4096 x 2160 at 30 Hz over HDMI, with 4K at 60 Hz supported where the motherboard outputs allow. For office work and media playback no separate graphics card is needed.
Platform and memory
The G6500 fits the FCLGA1200 socket. It supports up to 128 GB of DDR4-2666 across two memory channels, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 41.6 GB/s, and provides 16 PCI Express 3.0 lanes in 1×16, 2×8 or 1×8+2×4 configurations. Intel Optane memory is supported. The thermal solution specification is PCG 2015C and the package measures 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm. Compatible chipsets are listed on the Intel website: Intel Pentium Gold G6500 Processor.
Ideal for
- Office and home PCs for documents, browsing and email
- Media and home-theatre systems using the integrated graphics
- Low-power builds where a 58 W processor is an advantage
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Pentium Gold G6500
- Code name: Comet Lake, 14 nm
- Cores / threads: 2 / 4
- Base frequency: 4.1 GHz (no Turbo Boost)
- Cache: 4 MB Intel Smart Cache
- Bus speed: 8 GT/s
- TDP: 58 W
- Socket: FCLGA1200
- Memory: DDR4-2666, 2 channels, up to 128 GB, 41.6 GB/s
- Integrated graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630, 350 MHz to 1.10 GHz
- Graphics max memory: 64 GB shared
- Max resolution: 4096 x 2304 at 60 Hz (DisplayPort), 4096 x 2160 at 30 Hz (HDMI)
- Displays supported: 3
- PCI Express: 3.0, 16 lanes (1×16, 2×8, 1×8+2×4)
- Hyper-Threading: Yes
- Virtualisation: VT-x, VT-d, EPT
- Security: AES-NI, Secure Key, SGX (with Intel ME), OS Guard, Boot Guard, Execute Disable Bit
- Thermal solution: PCG 2015C, TJUNCTION 100 C
- Package size: 37.5 mm x 37.5 mm
The Intel Pentium G6500 is a sensible choice for a straightforward LGA1200 system that needs modern connectivity, integrated graphics and low running costs rather than a high core count. Punch can fit it in a new build.
