Intel Core i3-6100T vs Raspberry Pi 4 B (Broadcom BCM2711)

The Intel Core i3-6100T, architecture name Skylake S, was introduced in mid-2015 and targeted energy-efficient desktop PCs, small form factor systems, and office computers.

It is manufactured using a 14 nm process and features two cores and four threads thanks to Hyper-Threading, which improves multitasking performance. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 and a maximum memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s support basic graphics tasks. This processor offers PCIe Version 3.0. For general desktop use and light older games, it is better suited due to its x86 architecture and driver support.

Its Thermal Design Power (TDP) is designed for balanced energy efficiency in a traditional desktop system. The Raspberry Pi 4 B (Broadcom BCM2711), architecture name Cortex-A72, was launched in mid-2019 and targets single-board computer enthusiasts, educators, and developers for embedded systems and IoT projects.

It is manufactured using a 28 nm process and integrates a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor, which offers efficient multi-core processing for its application areas. The maximum memory bandwidth is 13 GB/s, and the integrated graphics is the Broadcom VideoCore VI. Its single-core performance is significantly lower than that of the Intel Core i3-6100T.

For gaming, it is not designed for traditional PC games but rather for emulation or ARM-based applications. Its extremely low power consumption and low TDP are ideal for energy-sensitive projects and passive cooling. In terms of performance comparison, the Intel Core i3-6100T shows significantly higher single-core performance, making it superior for applications heavily reliant on the performance of individual cores.

Although the Raspberry Pi 4 B (Broadcom BCM2711) has four native cores, the Intel Core i3-6100T often gains an advantage in many general multi-core applications due to its architecture and Hyper-Threading. For gaming, the Intel Core i3-6100T with its Intel HD Graphics 530 and x86 compatibility offers a better platform for basic desktop games.

The Raspberry Pi 4 B (Broadcom BCM2711) with its Broadcom VideoCore VI and ARM architecture is rather optimized for embedded graphics tasks and special applications. Regarding power consumption, the Raspberry Pi 4 B (Broadcom BCM2711) is significantly more energy-efficient with a much lower TDP and extremely low power consumption.

The Intel Core i3-6100T has a higher TDP, which is nevertheless considered efficient for a desktop processor. In terms of price, the Intel Core i3-6100T can often be found cheaply on the used market but requires a complete desktop system. The Raspberry Pi 4 B (Broadcom BCM2711), as part of the Raspberry Pi 4 B board, offers excellent value for money for its specific areas of application.

In summary, the Intel Core i3-6100T is the better choice for a conventional desktop experience, office work, web browsing, and lighter multimedia applications, especially when good single-core performance and x86 software compatibility are required. The Raspberry Pi 4 B (Broadcom BCM2711), on the other hand, is ideal for projects where low power consumption, compact form factor, and the flexibility of a single-board computer platform are paramount, such as IoT, home automation, or as a media center.