Intel Celeron N5100 vs Intel Pentium Gold G5500T Comparison

# The Verdict

The benchmark data tells a surprisingly close story between these two end-of-life Intel processors. The Intel Celeron N5100 wins all five head-to-head Cinebench tests, but the margins are razor-thin—ranging from 0.3% to 0.6%. The average benchmark scores nearly identical: 966 for the Celeron N5100 versus 963 for the Pentium Gold G5500T. Both sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they occupy the same performance tier in the broader market.

The Celeron N5100 edges ahead in every measured workload, making it the default choice for pure compute based on this data. Its 0.3% lead in Cinebench R20 multi-core and 0.6% lead in R20 single-core are within noise margins, but the consistency across all five tests suggests a real, if marginal, advantage. The Pentium Gold G5500T, however, brings different attributes to the table: it supports ECC memory, offers more PCIe lanes, and pairs with a more robust integrated GPU. For buyers prioritizing those features, the G5500T remains viable despite losing every benchmark.

The data suggests these chips are effectively interchangeable for general productivity, with the Celeron N5100 holding a statistical edge. The G5500T's higher TDP of 35 watts versus 6 watts for the N5100 indicates the Pentium consumes significantly more power while delivering essentially identical performance. The N5100's mobile platform and 10nm process make it the more efficient choice, while the G5500T's desktop pedigree offers platform flexibility.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two chips is substantial despite their similar performance. The Celeron N5100 uses Intel's Tremont architecture on the Jasper Lake platform, built on a 10nm process. It features 4 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 1100 MHz and a boost clock of 2.80 GHz. The die size is 63.8 mm², reflecting the efficiency-focused design. Cache hierarchy includes 64 KB L1 per core, 1.5 MB shared L2, and 4 MB shared L3.

The Pentium Gold G5500T employs the older Coffee Lake architecture on a 14nm process. It has 2 cores and 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.20 GHz and no boost clock listed. The die size is considerably larger at 126 mm²—nearly double the N5100's. Cache configuration differs notably: 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The per-core L2 allocation gives each G5500T core more dedicated cache, but the N5100's shared L2 pool is larger overall.

Memory support diverges significantly. The N5100 supports both DDR4 and LPDDR4 with dual-channel configuration and 46.9 GB/s bandwidth. The G5500T supports only DDR4, also dual-channel, but with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth—about 18% less. The G5500T counters with ECC memory support, a feature absent from the N5100. PCIe connectivity also differs: the N5100 offers 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, while the G5500T provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes.

Integrated graphics separate them further. The N5100 carries UHD Graphics with 24 execution units, while the G5500T features UHD Graphics 630. The socket platforms are incompatible: the N5100 uses Intel BGA 1338 (mobile), and the G5500T uses Intel Socket 1151 (desktop). The N5100's 6-watt TDP versus the G5500T's 35-watt TDP highlights the efficiency divide between the 10nm mobile part and the 14nm desktop part.

# Where Each One Wins

The Celeron N5100 wins every benchmark in this comparison, though the margins are minimal. Its strongest showing is a 0.6% lead in Cinebench R20 single-core (166 versus 165). In multi-core tests, it leads by 0.3% in R20 (1179 versus 1175) and 0.4% in R23 (2809 versus 2799). The R15 multi-core test is a dead heat at 282 for both.

The N5100's wins suggest its four physical cores provide a slight edge over the G5500T's two cores with Hyper-Threading. Even in single-core tests, where the G5500T's 3.20 GHz base clock should theoretically dominate the N5100's 2.80 GHz boost, the Tremont architecture holds its own. The N5100's newer 10nm process likely compensates for the clock speed disadvantage.

The G5500T's advantages are not in raw compute but in platform features. Its ECC memory support makes it suitable for error-sensitive workloads. The 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes double the N5100's connectivity, enabling more expansion options. The UHD Graphics 630 is a more capable iGPU than the N5100's 24EU implementation, though the data doesn't include graphics benchmarks to quantify this. The G5500T also carries a launch MSRP of $75, which can be stated once as historical context.

For workloads that stress memory bandwidth, the N5100's 46.9 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s gives it a theoretical advantage. For applications that benefit from per-core L2 cache, the G5500T's 256 KB per core versus the N5100's shared 1.5 MB L2 could matter. The data, however, shows these theoretical differences do not translate into meaningful benchmark separation.

# FAQ

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

A: The Celeron N5100 wins all multi-core tests, but by tiny margins: 0.3% in Cinebench R20 (1179 versus 1175) and 0.4% in R23 (2809 versus 2799). The R15 multi-core test is a tie at 282.

Q: Does the Pentium Gold G5500T have any performance advantage?

A: No. The data shows the G5500T loses all five head-to-head benchmarks, with its closest result being a 0.3% deficit in Cinebench R23 multi-core (2799 versus 2809).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The Celeron N5100 averages 966, while the Pentium Gold G5500T averages 963—a 0.3% difference. Both sit at the 26th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the key platform differences?

A: The N5100 uses Intel BGA 1338 (mobile) with 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and 46.9 GB/s memory bandwidth. The G5500T uses Intel Socket 1151 (desktop) with 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The G5500T supports ECC memory; the N5100 does not.

Q: Which chip is more power-efficient?

A: The N5100 has a 6-watt TDP versus the G5500T's 35-watt TDP. The N5100 also uses a 10nm process versus the G5500T's 14nm process, and its die is 63.8 mm² versus 126 mm².

Q: Are these processors still relevant?

A: Both are end-of-life products with identical 26th percentile scores. They perform within 0.4% of each other in average benchmarks, making them historical comparisons rather than current purchase recommendations.

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The five Cinebench tests reveal a consistent pattern: the Celeron N5100 wins everything, but never by more than a fraction of a percent. The largest margin is in Cinebench R20 single-core, where the N5100 scores 166 against 165 for the G5500T—a 0.6% lead. This is notable because the G5500T runs at a 3.20 GHz base clock with no boost, while the N5100 boosts to 2.80 GHz. Despite the 400 MHz clock advantage for the Pentium, the Tremont architecture's efficiency wins out.

In Cinebench R23 single-core, the N5100 scores 396 versus 395, a 0.3% lead. The R23 multi-core test shows 2809 versus 2799, also 0.4% in favor of the N5100. The R20 multi-core test is similarly close: 1179 for the N5100, 1175 for the G5500T, a 0.3% margin. The R15 multi-core test is an exact tie at 282 for both processors.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this picture. The N5100's 966 average places it 0.3% above the G5500T's 963. Interestingly, the N5100's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U at 968 (-0.2%) and the Intel Core i5-2400S at 968 (-0.2%), while the G5500T's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-4360T at 963 (0%) and the AMD A8-9600 at 962 (0.1%). Both chips effectively trade places in each other's rival lists, confirming their statistical equivalence.

The head-to-head win count is 5-0 in favor of the N5100, but the average delta across all tests is approximately 0.3%. These results suggest that in real-world applications, users would struggle to notice any difference between the two. The N5100's four physical cores versus the G5500T's two cores with four threads produce nearly identical Cinebench scores, indicating that the software's scaling does not favor either configuration.

# Specification Differences

The two processors diverge on nearly every specification except core count related metrics. Core and thread counts differ: the N5100 has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the G5500T has 2 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 1100 MHz for the N5100 and 3.20 GHz for the G5500T; only the N5100 lists a boost clock (2.80 GHz). TDP is 6 watts for the N5100 versus 35 watts for the G5500T.

Socket compatibility is entirely different: Intel BGA 1338 for the N5100, Intel Socket 1151 for the G5500T. Architecture and process node differ—Tremont on 10nm versus Coffee Lake on 14nm. Die size is 63.8 mm² for the N5100 and 126 mm² for the G5500T. Cache layouts vary: L1 is 64 KB per core for both, but L2 is 1.5 MB shared for the N5100 versus 256 KB per core for the G5500T. Both share 4 MB L3.

Memory support differs in type and bandwidth: the N5100 accepts DDR4 and LPDDR4 with 46.9 GB/s, while the G5500T accepts only DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported only on the G5500T. PCIe lanes differ: 8 Gen 3 lanes for the N5100, 16 Gen 3 lanes for the G5500T. Integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 24EU for the N5100 and UHD Graphics 630 for the G5500T. Market segments are Mobile for the N5100 and Desktop for the G5500T. The G5500T has a launch MSRP of $75, while the N5100 has no listed launch MSRP. Part numbers are SRKGZ for the N5100 and SR3YE for the G5500T.