Intel Celeron G5920 vs Intel Pentium G4520 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data is remarkably consistent across all five recorded Cinebench tests. The Intel Pentium G4520 wins every single head-to-head comparison, but the margins are narrow. In the Cinebench R15 multi-core test, the Pentium G4520 scores 227 against the Celeron G5920's 226, a delta of 0.4%. That pattern repeats in Cinebench R20 multi-core, where the Pentium posts 949 versus 945, again a 0.4% advantage.

Single-core results are even closer. In Cinebench R20 single-core, both processors record an identical score of 133, with the Pentium awarded the win by a delta of 0%. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Pentium edges ahead by 319 to 318, a 0.3% difference. The R23 multi-core test shows 2261 for the Pentium and 2252 for the Celeron, maintaining that consistent 0.4% gap.

The overall win count stands at 5 for the Pentium G4520 and 0 for the Celeron G5920. However, the average benchmark score tells a similar story with a slightly larger spread: the Pentium averages 778 across all benchmarks, while the Celeron averages 775. That 3-point gap places the Pentium in a tie with the AMD A10-5800K, which also scores 778 with a 0% delta. The Celeron, by contrast, sits level with the Intel Core i3-3250T at 775, also a 0% delta.

Both processors occupy the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database, confirming that these differences, while consistently in favor of the Pentium, are minor in absolute terms. The Celeron's nearest rival list includes the Intel Core i7-3687U at 773 (0.3% behind) and the Pentium Silver J5005 at 776 (0.1% ahead). The Pentium's rivals include the Intel Core i3-7100 at 781 (0.4% ahead) and the AMD Athlon X4 760K at 777 (0.2% behind). The data indicates that neither chip dramatically outclasses the other in raw compute, but the Pentium holds a measurable, if small, edge in every recorded workload.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations despite sharing the same 14 nm process node from Intel. The Pentium G4520 is built on Skylake architecture, released in August 2015, while the Celeron G5920 uses Comet Lake architecture, released in April 2020. Both are dual-core, dual-thread parts with a 64 KB L1 cache per core and 256 KB L2 cache per core.

The most significant architectural divergence is the shared L3 cache. The Pentium G4520 carries 4 MB of shared L3 cache, double the 2 MB found on the Celeron G5920. This larger cache likely contributes to the Pentium's consistent benchmark advantage, as more data can reside closer to the cores. The Celeron's smaller cache may explain why it trails despite a newer architecture name.

Clock speeds differ slightly. The Pentium runs at a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Celeron operates at 3.50 GHz. Neither processor supports boost clocks, so these base frequencies represent their maximum sustained speeds. The 0.10 GHz advantage for the Pentium aligns with its benchmark lead, though the relationship is not perfectly proportional.

Socket compatibility separates the two as well. The Pentium G4520 uses Intel Socket 1151, while the Celeron G5920 uses Intel Socket 1200. This means they are not interchangeable in the same motherboard. The Pentium supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, while the Celeron supports only DDR4. Memory bandwidth figures reflect this: the Celeron offers 42.7 GB/s versus the Pentium's 34.1 GB/s, a notable advantage for the newer chip despite its lower benchmark scores.

Transistor count and die size are recorded only for the Pentium G4520, which lists 1,400 million transistors on a 150 mm² die. The Celeron G5920 has no transistor or die size data in the database. Both processors use PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes available to the CPU, and neither supports ECC memory. The integrated graphics differ: the Pentium features Intel HD 530, while the Celeron uses UHD 610. Both are locked (multiplier unlocked: false) and target the desktop market segment.

Power consumption favors the Pentium despite its older design. The Pentium G4520 has a TDP of 51 watts, while the Celeron G5920 draws 58 watts. This is counterintuitive given the Celeron's newer architecture, but the data is unambiguous. The Celeron's higher TDP does not translate into higher performance in any recorded benchmark.

The Verdict

The Intel Pentium G4520 is the clear winner in every benchmark category recorded. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, posts a higher average score (778 versus 775), and achieves these results with a lower TDP (51 watts versus 58 watts). The performance edge is small, typically 0.3% to 0.4%, but it is consistent across multi-core and single-core workloads.

The Celeron G5920 does have advantages in specific areas. It offers higher memory bandwidth (42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s), supports only DDR4 (simplifying memory compatibility), and uses a newer socket (1200 versus 1151). It also carries a newer architecture name (Comet Lake versus Skylake) and a more recent release date (April 2020 versus August 2015). However, none of these advantages translate into superior benchmark performance.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance, the Pentium G4520 is the better choice based on the recorded data. For users who require the newer socket or higher memory bandwidth, the Celeron G5920 offers those features, but they will accept a slight performance penalty. The verdict from the database is straightforward: the Pentium wins on performance, the Celeron wins on platform modernity, and the performance gap favors the Pentium in every test.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins in multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 wins all three multi-core tests. It scores 227 versus 226 in Cinebench R15, 949 versus 945 in R20, and 2261 versus 2252 in R23, each with a 0.4% advantage.

Q: Is there any benchmark where the Celeron G5920 wins?

A: No. The head-to-head data records 5 wins for the Pentium G4520 and 0 wins for the Celeron G5920. The closest result is Cinebench R20 single-core, where both score 133 and the Pentium is awarded the win by a 0% delta.

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

A: The Pentium G4520 ties with the AMD A10-5800K at 778 average score (0% delta) and trails the Intel Core i3-7100 by 0.4%. The Celeron G5920 ties with the Intel Core i3-3250T at 775 (0% delta) and trails the AMD Athlon X4 760K by 0.2%.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Celeron G5920 offers 42.7 GB/s memory bandwidth, while the Pentium G4520 offers 34.1 GB/s. Both use dual-channel memory, but the Celeron supports only DDR4 while the Pentium supports both DDR3 and DDR4.

Q: Which processor has more L3 cache?

A: The Pentium G4520 has 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Celeron G5920 has 2 MB of shared L3 cache. Both have identical L1 (64 KB per core) and L2 (256 KB per core) cache configurations.

Q: Are these processors unlocked for overclocking?

A: No. Both the Pentium G4520 and the Celeron G5920 have multiplier unlocked set to false, meaning neither supports unlocked multiplier overclocking.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium G4520 wins in all recorded performance benchmarks. This includes multi-core workloads like Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, where its 0.4% lead is consistent. It also wins single-core tests, though by a narrower margin (0.0% to 0.3%). The Pentium's larger 4 MB L3 cache and higher 3.60 GHz base clock are the likely contributors to this performance edge. Its lower TDP of 51 watts versus 58 watts also makes it the more power-efficient choice for sustained workloads.

The Celeron G5920 wins in platform-level features. Its Socket 1200 compatibility is newer than the Pentium's Socket 1151, which matters for users building on current-generation motherboards. Its higher memory bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s gives it an edge in memory-intensive scenarios, even if those scenarios do not appear in the Cinebench suite. The Celeron also supports only DDR4 memory, which simplifies system configuration for builders who have no need for DDR3 backward compatibility.

For gaming and general desktop use, the single-core performance is nearly identical, with both chips tied at 133 in Cinebench R20 single-core. The Pentium's 1-point lead in R23 single-core (319 versus 318) is negligible in real-world terms. The choice between these two processors ultimately comes down to platform needs: users who prioritize raw compute and power efficiency should select the Pentium G4520, while users who need the newer socket or higher memory bandwidth should select the Celeron G5920.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specifications. The Pentium G4520 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz, while the Celeron G5920 has a base clock of 3.50 GHz. The Pentium uses Socket 1151, the Celeron uses Socket 1200. The Pentium's architecture is Skylake with a codename of Skylake, while the Celeron's architecture is Comet Lake with a codename of Comet Lake. The Pentium's generation is listed as "Pentium (Skylake)" and the Celeron's as "Celeron (Comet Lake)".

The TDP differs by 7 watts: 51 for the Pentium, 58 for the Celeron. L3 cache is 4 MB shared for the Pentium versus 2 MB shared for the Celeron. Memory support differs: the Pentium supports both DDR3 and DDR4, while the Celeron supports only DDR4. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s for the Pentium versus 42.7 GB/s for the Celeron. Integrated graphics differ: Intel HD 530 for the Pentium, UHD 610 for the Celeron.

The release dates are separated by over four years: the Pentium launched on August 31, 2015, and the Celeron launched on April 29, 2020. The transistor count and die size are recorded only for the Pentium (1,400 million transistors, 150 mm²), with no data for the Celeron. The part numbers are SR2HM for the Pentium and SRH42 for the Celeron. Both processors share identical specifications in cores (2), threads (2), process node (14 nm), foundry (Intel), L1 cache (64 KB per core), L2 cache (256 KB per core), memory bus (dual-channel), ECC support (false), PCIe (Gen 3, 16 lanes), market segment (Desktop), production status (Active), and multiplier unlock (false).