Intel Core i5-6600K vs Intel Core i3-1305U vs Intel Core i5-6400T

Intel Core i5-6600K

The Intel Core i5-6600K is a high-end quad-core desktop processor based on the Skylake architecture, which was announced in August 2015. The CPU, which is manufactured in a 14 nm process, runs at 3.5 up to 3.9 GHz (2 cores: 3.8 GHz, 3 cores: 3.7 GHz, 4 cores: 3.6 GHz) and – contrary to the i7-series – does not support Hyperthreading. Being a so called "K"-model, the Core i5-6600K has a free multiplier and can be easily overclocked. 

Performance

Because of the slightly slower clocks, the smaller L3-cache (6 instead of 8 MB) as well as the missing Hyperthreading support, the Core i5-6600K is about 10-30 percent slower than the top model i7-6700K. The CPU will still handle demanding applications and games without any problems.

Graphics

Graphics are handled by the integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 with 24 EUs (Execution Units), which is clocked at 350 - 1150 MHz. Compared to the HD Graphics 4600 (Haswell, 20 EUs), the performance is increased by around 25 percent. The overall GPU performance is still low-end, so modern games can, if at all, only be played smoothly with low settings. 

Power Consumption

The TDP was slightly raised from 88 to 91 Watts compared to the predecessor.

Intel Core i3-1305U

The Intel Core i3-1305U is an entry-level mobile CPU for thin and light laptops from the Raptor Lake-U series. It was announced in early 2023 and offers one performance core (P-cores, most likely Golden Cove architecture like Alder Lake) and 4 efficient cores (E-cores, Gracemont architecture). The P-cores support Hyper-Threading leading to 6 supported threads when combined with the E-cores. The clock rate ranges from 1.6 to 4.5 GHz on the performance cluster and 1.2 to 3.3 GHz on the efficient cluster. The performance of the E-cores should be similar to old Skylake cores (compare to the Core i7-6700HQ). All cores can use up to 10 MB L3-cache. 

Performance

The performance should be slightly higher than the old Alder Lake Pentium 8505 (max. 4.4 GHz and 8 MB L3-cache).

Features

The integrated memory controller supports various memory types up to DDR5-5200, DDR4-3200, LPDDR5-5200, and LPDDR4x-4267. The Thread Director (in hardware) can support the operating system to decide which thread to use on the performance or efficient cores for the best performance. For AI tasks, the CPU also integrates GNA 3.0 and DL Boost (via AVX2). Quick Sync in version 8 is the same as in the Rocket Lake CPUs and supports MPEG-2, AVC, VC-1 decode, JPEG, VP8 decode, VP9, HEVC, and AV1 decode in hardware. The CPU only supports PCIe 4.0 (x8 for a GPU and two x4 for SSDs).

The integrated graphics adapter is based on the Xe-architecture and offers 64 of the 96 EUs (Execution Units) operating at up to 1.25 GHz.

Power consumption

The i3 has a Base power consumption of 15 W, with 55 W being its maximum Intel-recommended Turbo power consumption. The CPU is built with a further improved 10nm SuperFin process at Intel (Intel 7).

Intel Core i5-6400T

The Intel Core i5-6400T is a frugal quad-core desktop processor based on the Skylake architecture, which was announced in August 2015. The CPU, which is manufactured in a 14 nm process, runs at 2.2-2.8 GHz and does not support Hyperthreading (only 4 threads simultaneously).

Architecture

Intel uses Skylake to replace both Broadwell as well as Haswell and therefore uses one core design for all TDP classes between 4.5-45 Watts. Several improvements of the Skylake architecture include bigger Out-to-Order-Buffer, optimizations for pre-fetching as well as bigger gains by Hyperthreading. However, the changes are small for a "Tock" – a new micro architecture – in general, so the per-MHz performance is only between 5-10 % (compared to Haswell) or less than 5 % higher (compared to Broadwell), respectively.

Performance

Depending on the utilization of Hyperthreading, the performance is roughly on par with the old Core i7-2670QM mobile processor (Sandy Bridge, 2.2-2.8 GHz, Hyperthreading), but sometimes also much higher.

Graphics

Graphics are handled by the integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 with 24 EUs (Execution Units), which is clocked at 350 - 950 MHz. Compared to the HD Graphics 4600 (Haswell, 20 EUs), the performance is increased by around 25 percent. The overall GPU performance is still low-end, so modern games can, if at all, only be played smoothly with low settings.

Power Consumption

Intel specifies the TDP with 35 Watts, so it can also be used in notebooks (although bigger ones).