Pitched at a point above the i5-6400 is the i5-6500, another sixth-gen Intel processor that takes the benefits offered by the more entry-level i5-6400 and adds a couple more enticing elements to the mix.
This is a 3.2GHz 64-bit processor, with four cores, 6MB of L3 SmartCache and a turbo frequency of up to 3.6GHz. Since it’s a sixth-gen model, there’s support for DDR4 memory up to 1866/2133MHz, a TDP of 65W and an integrated Intel HD 530 GPU.
The obvious difference between this model and the i5-6400 are the base and turbo frequencies. The extra 500MHz of base clock speeds can make a significant difference on the application you’re running – more specifically if you’re doing the more intensive CPU tasks such as transcoding a video or even gaming.
The GPU side of things has seen an upgrade too, with a maximum boost frequency of 1.05GHz, although the base frequency of the GPU still sits at 350MHz. 4K support at 60Hz is available, as you would expect, as well as DirectX 12 and a variety of other Intel display and video technology. Generally speaking, it’s a better integrated GPU than that of the i5-6400, but don’t expect it to rival the capabilities of even the entry-level dedicated graphics cards.
The i5-6500 is priced reasonably well, at around £165. This makes it a more attractive prospect than the higher-end K-labelled unlocked processors, and when compared to the i5-6400, the extra £15 or so you’ll spend give you a little more processing grunt for your money.
Our PassMark 8.0 overall CPU scored 7,068, with a single thread score of 1,956. This is a fair bit higher than the i5-6400, meaning it's better for CPU-intensive applications as well as gaming.
The Cinebench R15 singlecore test score was good at 154, while the multi-core score came in at 569. Both are promising scores for those who are after a decent performing processor and, as we mentioned with the i5-6400, when paired with an equally capable dedicated graphics card and other components, the i5-6500 would make for a better than average gaming system.
Overall, the Intel i5-6500 is a good processor. It’s at an interesting price, before things start to hit over £200, and it performs well too. Naturally, those who are thinking of squeezing as many megahertz out of their processor will opt for the K-versions, but for those who want an all-round good system, the i5-6500 won’t disappoint.