AMD FX-8320E vs Intel Pentium Gold G5620 Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do these two CPUs compare in overall benchmark standing?

A: Both processors sit at the 29th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The AMD FX-8320E has an average benchmark score of 1059, while the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 averages 1045, a difference of roughly 1.3% in favor of AMD.

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The FX-8320E has 8 cores and 8 threads. The Pentium Gold G5620 has 2 cores and 4 threads. This is a 4x difference in core count and a 2x difference in thread count.

Q: What are the clock speed profiles of each processor?

A: The FX-8320E has a base clock of 3.20 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The Pentium Gold G5620 has a base clock of 4.00 GHz and no boost clock, meaning it runs at a fixed frequency.

Q: Which CPU supports faster memory and more modern PCIe?

A: The Pentium Gold G5620 supports DDR4 memory with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes. The FX-8320E supports DDR3 with 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth and PCIe Gen 2.

Q: Do either of these CPUs include integrated graphics?

A: The Pentium Gold G5620 includes UHD Graphics 630. The FX-8320E does not have integrated graphics on the CPU die; it relies on chipset features on certain motherboards for display output.

Q: What is the production status of these two chips?

A: Both are end-of-life products. The FX-8320E launched in September 2014, while the Pentium Gold G5620 launched in February 2019.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. AMD's FX-8320E is built on the Piledriver architecture, using the Vishera codename, and is fabricated on a 32 nm process by GlobalFoundries. The chip contains 1,200 million transistors on a 315 mm² die. Intel's Pentium Gold G5620 uses the Coffee Lake architecture on a 14 nm process, fabricated by Intel, with a die size of 126 mm².

The FX-8320E is a true 8-core design with 8 threads, reflecting AMD's module-based approach on the AM3+ platform. Its cache hierarchy includes 384 KB of L1, 8 MB of L2, and 8 MB of shared L3. The Pentium Gold G5620 is a 2-core, 4-thread part with Hyper-Threading, carrying 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3.

Memory architecture differs significantly. The FX-8320E uses DDR3 on a dual-channel bus delivering 29.9 GB/s of bandwidth, and it lacks ECC support. The Pentium Gold G5620 uses DDR4 on a dual-channel bus delivering 38.4 GB/s, and it supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also favors Intel: the FX-8320E offers PCIe Gen 2, while the Pentium Gold G5620 provides PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes.

The FX-8320E has an unlocked multiplier, which allows for overclocking. The Pentium Gold G5620 has a locked multiplier. The FX-8320E carries a TDP of 95 watts, while the Pentium Gold G5620 is rated at 54 watts. The Pentium Gold includes UHD Graphics 630 on-die, whereas the FX-8320E relies on motherboard chipset capabilities for display.

Where Each One Wins

The FX-8320E wins in scenarios that scale with core count. Its 8 physical cores provide a clear advantage in multithreaded workloads such as video encoding, 3D rendering, and heavily threaded productivity tasks. The recorded Geekbench multicore score of 1681 reflects this strength.

The Pentium Gold G5620 wins in single-threaded and lightly threaded tasks. Its fixed 4.00 GHz clock speed, combined with the more modern Coffee Lake architecture, gives it an edge in daily responsiveness, office applications, and legacy software that relies on one or two threads. Its integrated UHD Graphics 630 also makes it a more self-contained option for basic systems without a discrete GPU.

For gaming, the Pentium Gold G5620 is generally the better choice for older or less demanding titles that favor high single-core performance. The FX-8320E may hold up better in newer titles that can utilize multiple cores, though its lower single-thread performance is a limiting factor. The Pentium Gold's PCIe Gen 3 support also allows modern GPUs to run at full bandwidth, while the FX-8320E is limited to PCIe Gen 2.

The FX-8320E is the pick for a budget multithreaded workstation where core count matters more than clock speed. The Pentium Gold G5620 is the pick for an efficient, low-power system with strong single-thread performance and minimal thermal output.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD FX-8320E | Intel Pentium Gold G5620 |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 8 | 2 |

| Threads | 8 | 4 |

| Base Clock | 3.20 GHz | 4.00 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.00 GHz | None |

| TDP | 95 W | 54 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM3+ | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Piledriver | Coffee Lake |

| Process Node | 32 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,200 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 315 mm² | 126 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 384 KB | 64 KB per core |

| L2 Cache | 8 MB | 256 KB per core |

| L3 Cache | 8 MB shared | 4 MB shared |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 29.9 GB/s | 38.4 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 2 | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Chipset feature | UHD Graphics 630 |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $147 | $93 |

| Release Date | September 2014 | February 2019 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database does not contain direct head-to-head benchmark runs between these two CPUs, but the available individual benchmark scores reveal the performance split.

In Geekbench multicore, the FX-8320E scores 1681. This is a strong result for an 8-core part from 2014. The Pentium Gold G5620 does not have a Geekbench multicore score in the database, so a direct comparison is not possible from that test.

In Cinebench, the Pentium Gold G5620 shows its single-thread dominance. Its Cinebench R15 single-core score is 51, while its multicore score is 364. The ratio between these scores is about 7.1x, which reflects that the 2-core, 4-thread part cannot scale its single-thread performance across its limited core count. In Cinebench R20, the Pentium Gold scores 214 single-core and 1517 multicore. In Cinebench R23, it scores 510 single-core and 3613 multicore.

The FX-8320E's Geekbench single-core score is 437. That is substantially lower than what the Pentium Gold's clock speed and architecture would suggest, though the two tests are different and cannot be directly compared. What the data does show is that the FX-8320E's multicore score of 1681 is roughly 3.8x its single-core score of 437, indicating that its 8 cores provide meaningful scaling in multithreaded tests.

The average benchmark scores put the FX-8320E at 1059 and the Pentium Gold G5620 at 1045. The nearest rivals for the FX-8320E include the Intel Core i3-4350 with an average score of 1058, a delta of 0.1%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U also at 1058, a delta of 0.1%. The FX-8320E is effectively tied with these parts. The Pentium Gold G5620's nearest rivals include the AMD PRO A10-9700 at 1045 with a delta of 0%, and the Intel Core i5-6350HQ at 1046 with a delta of 0%. Both CPUs sit in the same performance neighborhood, with the FX-8320E holding a slim overall edge.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear trade-off rather than a decisive winner. The FX-8320E is the better choice for users who need raw multithreaded throughput. Its 8 cores and 8 threads deliver a Geekbench multicore score of 1681, and its average benchmark of 1059 puts it just ahead of the Pentium Gold G5620's 1045. For video encoding, batch rendering, or any workload that can use all cores, the FX-8320E is the stronger part.

The Pentium Gold G5620 is the better choice for users who prioritize single-thread performance, power efficiency, and modern platform features. Its fixed 4.00 GHz clock, Coffee Lake architecture, DDR4 support with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, and PCIe Gen 3 make it a more balanced modern entry-level CPU. Its 54 watt TDP is significantly lower than the FX-8320E's 95 watts, making it easier to cool and cheaper to run.

The FX-8320E offers an unlocked multiplier, which is a meaningful advantage for overclockers. However, its 32 nm Piledriver architecture is older and less efficient than Intel's 14 nm Coffee Lake design. The Pentium Gold also includes UHD Graphics 630, so it can power a system without a discrete GPU, while the FX-8320E requires a motherboard with chipset-based graphics or a separate graphics card.

For a new build today, the Pentium Gold G5620 is the more rational choice for most users. It provides modern memory and PCIe standards, ECC support, and strong single-thread performance. For a user with an existing AM3+ platform who wants to extend its life with maximum core count, the FX-8320E remains a viable option. The database shows both parts at the 29th percentile overall, but they achieve that position through very different means: one through core count, the other through clock speed and architectural efficiency.