Intel Celeron G5920 vs Intel Core i3-5020U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is decisive: the Intel Celeron G5920 wins every recorded head-to-head test against the Intel Core i3-5020U, with a clean 5-0 sweep. The margins are remarkably consistent, hovering near 20% across all Cinebench workloads. This is not a case of one application favoring a specific architecture; the Celeron’s advantage is uniform and substantial.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Celeron G5920 scores 226 against the Core i3-5020U’s 188, a delta of 20.2%. Moving to Cinebench R20 multicore, the gap remains nearly identical: 945 versus 787, a 20.1% difference. The single-core tests tell the same story. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, the Celeron posts 133 versus 110, a 20.9% lead. Cinebench R23 singlecore shows 318 versus 264, a 20.5% advantage. The largest single delta is in Cinebench R20 singlecore at 20.9%, while the smallest is in Cinebench R23 multicore at exactly 20.0%. Every result falls within a tight band, suggesting a fundamental per-clock or per-core efficiency gap rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The Celeron’s average benchmark score of 775 places it in the 21st percentile among all CPUs, while the Core i3-5020U’s average of 757 places it in the 20th percentile. The nearest rivals for the Celeron include the Intel Core i3-3250T (775, 0% delta) and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005 (776, -0.1% delta), indicating it sits in a crowded performance tier. The Core i3-5020U’s closest competitors include the Intel Xeon E5450 (756, 0.1% delta) and the Intel Core i5-3210M (758, -0.1% delta). These percentile positions reinforce that while both chips are near the lower end of the database, the Celeron holds a measurable edge over the older mobile part.

It is important to note that the Core i3-5020U has additional Geekbench results in the database, scoring 1379 in multicore and 696 in singlecore. These scores are not directly comparable to the Cinebench tests, but they provide additional context for the mobile processor’s absolute capability. The Celeron G5920 does not have Geekbench entries, so the head-to-head comparison relies solely on the five Cinebench tests, all of which favor the desktop part.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher multi-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Intel Celeron G5920 scores 2252 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while the Intel Core i3-5020U scores 1876. The Celeron leads by 20%.

Q: How does the single-core performance compare between these two CPUs?

A: The Celeron G5920 wins every single-core test. In Cinebench R20 singlecore, it scores 133 versus 110, a 20.9% lead. In Cinebench R23 singlecore, it scores 318 versus 264, a 20.5% advantage.

Q: Does the Core i3-5020U have any benchmark win over the Celeron G5920?

A: No. The recorded head-to-head data shows the Celeron G5920 winning all five Cinebench tests. The wins tally is 5 for the Celeron and 0 for the Core i3.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each processor?

A: The Intel Celeron G5920 has an average benchmark score of 775, and the Intel Core i3-5020U has an average benchmark score of 757. The Celeron sits at the 21st percentile, while the Core i3 sits at the 20th percentile.

Q: Are there any extra benchmark results available for one chip but not the other?

A: Yes. The Intel Core i3-5020U has Geekbench results in the database, including a multicore score of 1379 and a singlecore score of 696. The Intel Celeron G5920 does not have Geekbench entries in the recorded data.

Q: How does the Celeron G5920 compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-3250T?

A: The Celeron G5920 and the Intel Core i3-3250T both have an average benchmark score of 775, resulting in a 0% delta. The Celeron also sits near the Intel Pentium Silver J5005, which scores 776, a -0.1% delta.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel microarchitectures and target different market segments. The Intel Celeron G5920 is based on Comet Lake, built on a 14 nm process, and is designed for desktop systems using the Intel Socket 1200. The Intel Core i3-5020U is based on Broadwell, specifically Broadwell-U, also on a 14 nm process, but it is a mobile part soldered to the Intel BGA 1168 package. The production status differs as well: the Celeron is listed as Active, while the Core i3 is End-of-life.

The core configurations are distinct. The Celeron G5920 has 2 cores and 2 threads, meaning no Hyper-Threading support. The Core i3-5020U has 2 cores and 4 threads, which provides simultaneous multithreading. Despite having twice the thread count, the Core i3 still loses in multi-threaded benchmarks, indicating that the Celeron’s higher base clock and newer architecture outweigh the thread advantage.

Cache hierarchies also diverge. The Celeron G5920 has 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 2 MB of shared L3. The Core i3-5020U has the same L1 and L2 per-core sizes, but its L3 cache is larger at 3 MB shared. The extra 1 MB of L3 on the Core i3 does not translate into a performance win in the recorded tests.

The integrated graphics differ. The Celeron G5920 features Intel UHD 610, while the Core i3-5020U includes Intel HD 5500. The memory support is also different: the Celeron uses DDR4 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s, whereas the Core i3 uses DDR3 with dual-channel support and a memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s. The Celeron’s memory bandwidth is significantly higher, which likely contributes to its benchmark lead.

PCIe capabilities vary as well. The Celeron G5920 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only), while the Core i3-5020U supports PCIe Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only). This makes the Celeron more suitable for discrete graphics and faster storage. The Celeron G5920 also has a known part number of SRH42, and the Core i3-5020U is SR240. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two processors, based on the database records:

Cores and Threads: The Celeron G5920 has 2 cores and 2 threads. The Core i3-5020U has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Base Clock: The Celeron G5920 runs at 3.50 GHz. The Core i3-5020U runs at 2.20 GHz. Neither processor has a boost clock listed.

TDP: The Celeron G5920 has a TDP of 58 W. The Core i3-5020U has a TDP of 15 W, making it a far more power-efficient mobile chip.

Socket: The Celeron G5920 uses Intel Socket 1200. The Core i3-5020U uses Intel BGA 1168.

Architecture and Codename: The Celeron G5920 is Comet Lake (codename Comet Lake). The Core i3-5020U is Broadwell (codename Broadwell-U).

Generation: The Celeron is listed as "Celeron (Comet Lake)". The Core i3 is listed as "Core i3 (Broadwell-U)".

Transistors and Die Size: The Celeron G5920 has no transistor or die size data. The Core i3-5020U has 1,300 million transistors and a die size of 82 mm².

Cache: Both have 64 KB L1 and 256 KB L2 per core. The Celeron has 2 MB shared L3, while the Core i3 has 3 MB shared L3.

Memory Support: The Celeron supports DDR4. The Core i3 supports DDR3. Memory bandwidth is 42.7 GB/s for the Celeron and 25.6 GB/s for the Core i3.

PCIe: The Celeron has Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only). The Core i3 has Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only).

Integrated Graphics: The Celeron G5920 has UHD 610. The Core i3-5020U has Intel HD 5500.

Market Segment: The Celeron is Desktop. The Core i3 is Mobile.

Production Status: The Celeron is Active. The Core i3 is End-of-life.

Release Date: The Celeron was released on 2020-04-29. The Core i3 was released on 2015-02-28.

Launch MSRP: The Core i3-5020U has a launch MSRP of $281. The Celeron G5920 has no recorded launch MSRP.

Part Number: The Celeron is SRH42. The Core i3 is SR240.

Benchmark Count: The Celeron has five recorded Cinebench scores. The Core i3 has five Cinebench scores plus two Geekbench scores.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Celeron G5920 wins in every compute benchmark recorded. Its advantages are most pronounced in single-core workloads, where it leads by 20.5% to 20.9% in Cinebench R20 and R23. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 20.0% to 20.2% across R15, R20, and R23. This makes the Celeron the clear choice for any CPU-bound task that relies on raw processing speed, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded.

The Celeron G5920 also wins in memory bandwidth, offering 42.7 GB/s compared to the Core i3’s 25.6 GB/s. This higher bandwidth, combined with DDR4 support and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, makes it better suited for a desktop system with modern components. The Core i3-5020U’s only advantages are its lower TDP (15 W versus 58 W), its larger L3 cache (3 MB versus 2 MB), and its extra threads (4 versus 2). In the recorded benchmarks, these advantages do not translate into any performance win.

The Core i3-5020U does have Geekbench scores in the database, but since the Celeron lacks equivalent results, a direct comparison on that test is not possible. The Core i3’s Geekbench multicore score of 1379 and singlecore score of 696 stand on their own, but they do not affect the head-to-head outcome.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Celeron G5920 is the faster processor in every measured metric. It outperforms the Intel Core i3-5020U by roughly 20% across all Cinebench tests, with the largest delta at 20.9% in single-core R20. The Celeron’s higher base clock of 3.50 GHz versus 2.20 GHz, its newer Comet Lake architecture, and its superior memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s versus 25.6 GB/s) all contribute to this consistent lead.

For a desktop user building a system on Intel Socket 1200, the Celeron G5920 offers solid performance for basic tasks, sitting at the 21st percentile among all CPUs. Its Active production status means it is still available, and its PCIe Gen 3 support with 16 lanes allows for modern expansion options. The Core i3-5020U, despite having twice the threads and a larger L3 cache, cannot overcome its older Broadwell architecture and lower clock speed. Its End-of-life status and mobile BGA package make it suitable only for legacy laptops or embedded uses.

The Core i3-5020U does have one clear benefit: power consumption. Its 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Celeron’s 58 W, making it the better choice for battery-powered or thermally constrained devices. However, the user who prioritizes raw CPU performance, as measured by Cinebench, should select the Celeron G5920. The verdict is simple: for compute performance, the Celeron wins; for ultra-low-power mobile operation, the Core i3 has its niche, but it loses every recorded benchmark battle.