Intel Celeron G5920 vs Intel Core i5-4210U Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the Intel Celeron G5920 across every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison. The Celeron wins all five tested workloads, with the Core i5-4210U trailing by a consistent margin of roughly 12.8 to 12.9 percent in each test.

In Cinebench R15 multicore, the Celeron G5920 scores 226 against 197 for the i5-4210U, a 12.8 percent advantage. That gap carries over to Cinebench R20 multicore, where the Celeron posts 945 versus 824, again a 12.8 percent lead. The single-core results tell the same story: Cinebench R20 single-core shows 133 for the Celeron against 116 for the i5, and Cinebench R23 single-core shows 318 versus 277. The Celeron also wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 2252 points versus 1962, a 12.9 percent margin.

What stands out is the uniformity of the gap. Across different rendering workloads, both single-threaded and multi-threaded, the Celeron holds a nearly identical lead of 12.8 to 12.9 percent. This suggests the performance difference is structural rather than workload-specific. The i5-4210U does not close the gap in any test, and the Celeron does not extend its lead dramatically in any single workload either.

The overall average benchmark score reflects this narrowly: the i5-4210U averages 788 points, while the Celeron G5920 averages 775. Both processors sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database, meaning they occupy essentially the same performance tier despite the Celeron winning every direct comparison. The nearest rivals for the i5-4210U include the Intel Core i5-3610ME at a 0.1 percent higher score, and the AMD Opteron 3350 HE and Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650, both at 0.2 percent lower scores. For the Celeron, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i3-3250T at an identical 775 average, with the Pentium Silver J5005 at 0.1 percent behind and the AMD Athlon X4 760K at 0.2 percent behind.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different eras and different market segments, and the architecture gap explains much of the benchmark behavior. The Intel Core i5-4210U is a Haswell-generation mobile chip, launched in April 2014, built on Intel's 22 nm process. It packs 1,400 million transistors into a 118 mm² die. The Intel Celeron G5920 is a Comet Lake desktop part, released in April 2020, on Intel's 14 nm process. Its transistor count and die size are not recorded in the database.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The i5-4210U has 2 cores and 4 threads, thanks to Hyper-Threading. The Celeron G5920 has 2 cores and 2 threads, with no simultaneous multi-threading. Despite having half the thread count, the Celeron still wins every multi-threaded benchmark, which points to a substantial per-core performance advantage.

Clock speeds tell part of the story. The i5-4210U has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 2700 MHz. The Celeron G5920 has no boost capability, but its base clock is 3500 MHz. Even at the i5's maximum boost, the Celeron runs 800 MHz higher, and at base clocks the gap is 1800 MHz. This is a desktop chip with a 58 W TDP against a 15 W mobile part, and the power envelope difference shows up directly in sustained clock behavior.

Cache allocation also differs. Both chips have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core, but the shared L3 cache is larger on the i5: 3 MB shared versus 2 MB shared on the Celeron. The i5's larger L3 does not compensate for its clock and architecture disadvantages in these workloads.

Memory support diverges as well. The i5-4210U supports DDR3 memory, while the Celeron G5920 supports DDR4. The Celeron is recorded with dual-channel memory and a memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s. The i5's memory bus and bandwidth are not recorded. The Celeron also has PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available from the CPU, while the i5's PCIe configuration is not listed.

Integrated graphics differ: the i5-4210U carries Intel HD 4400, while the Celeron G5920 has UHD 610. Neither chip has ECC memory support. Both are locked multipliers, so neither can be overclocked. The i5 uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket, while the Celeron uses Intel Socket 1200, so they are not interchangeable in any system.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-core workloads?

A: The Celeron G5920 wins all single-core comparisons. In Cinebench R20 single-core it scores 133 versus 116 for the i5-4210U, a 12.8 percent lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core it scores 318 versus 277, a 12.9 percent lead.

Q: Does the i5-4210U's Hyper-Threading help it win multi-threaded tests?

A: No. Despite having 4 threads against the Celeron's 2 threads, the i5-4210U loses every multi-threaded benchmark. In Cinebench R23 multicore, the Celeron scores 2252 against 1962, a 12.9 percent advantage. The Celeron's higher clock speed overcomes the thread count disadvantage.

Q: How do these chips compare to their nearest rivals in the database?

A: The i5-4210U averages 788 points, with its closest rival the Core i5-3610ME at 0.1 percent higher. The Celeron G5920 averages 775 points, with the Core i3-3250T at an identical score. Both chips sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the clock speed differences between the two?

A: The i5-4210U has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost clock of 2700 MHz. The Celeron G5920 has a base clock of 3500 MHz with no boost clock listed. At peak, the Celeron runs 800 MHz faster than the i5's maximum boost.

Q: Which chip has more cache?

A: The i5-4210U has 3 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Celeron G5920 has 2 MB. Both have 64 KB of L1 per core and 256 KB of L2 per core. The i5's larger L3 does not translate into a benchmark win.

Q: What memory types do these processors support?

A: The i5-4210U supports DDR3 memory. The Celeron G5920 supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel configuration and a recorded memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s.

The Verdict

The data leaves little room for ambiguity. The Intel Celeron G5920 wins every benchmark in the head-to-head comparison, with a consistent 12.8 to 12.9 percent margin across single-core and multi-core workloads. If the choice is purely about raw performance in the tested applications, the Celeron is the clear pick.

The i5-4210U's only advantages are structural rather than performance-based. It has a larger L3 cache at 3 MB versus 2 MB, it supports Hyper-Threading for 4 threads against 2, and it draws only 15 W against 58 W. For a system where power consumption is the dominant constraint, such as a thin-and-light laptop, the i5's efficiency profile matters. But in every measured benchmark, the Celeron's higher clock speed and newer architecture deliver better results.

Both chips sit at the 21st percentile in the overall database, and their average benchmark scores are close: 788 for the i5, 775 for the Celeron. That places them in the same performance tier overall, but the direct comparison shows the Celeron as the stronger part in every recorded test. The Celeron's nearest rival, the Core i3-3250T, matches its average score exactly, while the i5's nearest rival, the Core i5-3610ME, is essentially tied with it.

For a desktop build where power draw is not a concern, the Celeron G5920 is the better performer. For a mobile platform where the 15 W TDP and BGA socket matter, the i5-4210U is the only realistic option of the two, but it will leave performance on the table.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-4210U | Intel Celeron G5920 |

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

| Cores | 2 | 2 |

| Threads | 4 | 2 |

| Base Clock | 1700 MHz | 3500 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2700 MHz | Not listed |

| TDP | 15 W | 58 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 1200 |

| Architecture | Haswell | Comet Lake |

| Process Node | 22 nm | 14 nm |

| Transistors | 1,400 million | Not listed |

| Die Size | 118 mm² | Not listed |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 2 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR4 |

| Memory Bus | Not listed | Dual-channel |

| Memory Bandwidth | Not listed | 42.7 GB/s |

| PCIe | Not listed | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 4400 | UHD 610 |

| ECC Memory | No | No |

| Multiplier Unlocked | No | No |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |

| Release Date | 2014-04-13 | 2020-04-29 |

| Part Number | SR1EF | SRH42 |

Where Each One Wins

The Celeron G5920 wins in every direct benchmark comparison. In Cinebench R15 multicore, it leads 226 to 197. In Cinebench R20 multicore, it leads 945 to 824. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it leads 133 to 116. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it leads 2252 to 1962. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it leads 318 to 277. The margin is consistent at roughly 12.8 to 12.9 percent across all tests, which makes the Celeron the default pick for any workload represented by these rendering benchmarks.

The i5-4210U's strengths are not captured by the benchmark suite. It offers 4 threads versus 2, which can help in multitasking scenarios that are not measured here. It has a larger 3 MB L3 cache, which may benefit certain cache-sensitive workloads. Its 15 W TDP is dramatically lower than the Celeron's 58 W, making it suitable for passively cooled or battery-powered designs. The i5's mobile socket and 2014 release date also place it in an entirely different hardware ecosystem.

For a desktop system with adequate cooling and a power supply that can handle 58 W, the Celeron G5920 is the stronger processor in every recorded test. For a mobile system where battery life and thermals are paramount, the i5-4210U's efficiency and thread count make it the sensible choice, even though it loses every benchmark in this comparison. The data does not show a single workload where the i5 wins, so any decision in its favor must rest on unmeasured factors like power draw, platform compatibility, or integrated graphics capabilities.