The Intel Pentium Silver N6000 is a new quad-core SoC that has been introduced as part of the Jasper Lake series. This chip is designed for budget laptops and was launched in early 2021. The four Tremont CPU cores have clock speeds between 1.1 and 3.3 GHz and do not offer HyperThreading (SMT). The N6000 comes with 1.5 MB L2 cache and 4 MB L3 cache and is built using the first-gen 10 nm Intel process.
Architecture and Performance
The Tremont processor architecture is a complete overhaul compared to the previous Golmont Plus cores. Intel claims that the single-thread performance of each core has improved by an average of 30% in all tests of SPECint and SPECfp. The N6000 has an average benchmark score that is nearly equivalent to the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U and is capable of running essential day-to-day applications without any slowdowns.
Features and Power Consumption
In addition to the four CPU cores, the N6000 SoC integrates a 32 EU Intel UHD Graphics GPU, a dual-channel DDR4/quad-channel LPDDR4x memory controller, Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes, 14 USB 2.0/3.2 ports, and two SATA 6.0 ports. The chip has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 6 W and is built using Intel's first-gen 10 nm process for average energy efficiency.
The Intel Pentium Silver N6000 also comes with other notable features such as Intel Quick Sync Video, which provides fast video encoding and decoding capabilities, and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-NI) for enhanced security. Additionally, the N6000 supports 64-bit architecture and has a maximum temperature of 105°C. It is also compatible with the FCBGA1338 socket.
In terms of connectivity, the N6000 integrates Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) and provides 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes, 14 USB 2.0/ 3.2 ports and two SATA 6.0 ports. These features make it an ideal choice for budget-friendly laptops that need basic connectivity options.
The Jasper Lake series, of which the N6000 is a part of, is Intel's latest generation of low-power processors that were announced in early 2021. The Jasper Lake processors were designed to cater to the needs of inexpensive notebooks and provide a balance between performance and power consumption.
In conclusion, the Intel Pentium Silver N6000 is a budget-friendly quad-core SoC that offers decent performance and features for entry-level laptops. While it may not be the fastest or most powerful processor out there, it offers good value for its price and is suitable for basic computing tasks.
