Intel Core i3-5020U vs Intel Pentium G4400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a surprisingly close contest between these two Intel processors, with the Core i3-5020U taking six of seven head-to-head wins, though often by razor-thin margins. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the i3-5020U scores 188 against the Pentium G4400’s 187, a 0.5% edge. The R20 multicore test shows 787 versus 781, a 0.8% advantage. The R23 multicore run repeats that pattern: 1876 for the i3, 1861 for the Pentium, again 0.8% ahead.

Single-core results are nearly identical. Cinebench R20 single-core shows a dead tie at 110 for both chips, with the winner recorded as the i3-5020U due to a 0% delta. Cinebench R23 single-core gives the i3 a 264 to 262 win, another 0.8% margin. These differences are small enough to be considered noise in real-world use, but the pattern is consistent: the i3 nudges ahead in every Cinebench iteration.

The one decisive result comes from Geekbench. In multicore, the i3-5020U posts 1379 versus 1192 for the Pentium G4400, a substantial 15.7% lead. That is the largest delta in the entire comparison. However, the single-core Geekbench test flips the script: the Pentium G4400 scores 784 against 696 for the i3, an 11.2% advantage for the desktop part. This split tells a clear story about workload types and thread utilization.

Average benchmark scores across all tests place the i3-5020U at 757, with the Pentium G4400 at 740. Both processors sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs in the database. The i3’s nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon E5450 (avg 756, delta 0.1%), Core i5-3210M (avg 758, delta -0.1%), Core i5-4250U (avg 756, delta 0.2%), and Core i5-3230M (avg 754, delta 0.3%). The Pentium G4400’s nearest rivals are the Core i7-860S (avg 740, delta 0%), Core i5-670 (avg 741, delta -0.1%), AMD Phenom II X4 B97 (avg 741, delta -0.1%), and Xeon E5520 (avg 742, delta -0.2%). Essentially, both chips trade blows with much older high-end parts, which puts their performance tier in perspective.

Where Each One Wins

The i3-5020U is the clear winner for multi-threaded workloads, thanks to Hyper-Threading. Its four threads allow it to pull ahead in Geekbench multicore by 15.7%, which is the only benchmark where the gap exceeds 1%. For rendering tasks like Cinebench, the i3’s advantage is consistent but modest, hovering around 0.5% to 0.8% across R15, R20, and R23. If the workload scales across threads, the i3-5020U will finish ahead, though the margin is often negligible.

The Pentium G4400 takes the single-core crown in Geekbench, scoring 11.2% higher than the i3. This matters for lightly threaded applications, older games, or tasks that depend on single-thread responsiveness. The Cinebench single-core tests do not show the same gap, with both chips nearly identical at 110 and 264 versus 262. So the Geekbench single-core result stands out as the Pentium’s strongest showing, but it is not reflected across all single-threaded tests.

For everyday desktop use, the Pentium G4400’s higher base clock of 3.30 GHz versus 2.20 GHz for the i3 likely explains its single-core edge. The i3 compensates with its extra threads in parallel workloads. The database indicates that the i3 wins 6 out of 7 benchmark comparisons, but the practical difference in most tasks will be small. The Geekbench multicore result is the outlier and the i3’s best argument.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different Intel generations and target different market segments. The i3-5020U is a Broadwell-U mobile part, built on the 14 nm process with 1,300 million transistors on an 82 mm² die. It uses the Intel BGA 1168 socket and is classified as a mobile processor. The Pentium G4400 is Skylake, also 14 nm, but with 1,400 million transistors on a larger 150 mm² die. It uses the Intel Socket 1151 and is a desktop part.

Core counts are identical at 2, but thread counts differ: the i3-5020U has 4 threads, the Pentium G4400 has 2. This is the most significant architectural difference and explains the multicore benchmark results. Cache configurations also differ. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core. The i3-5020U has 3 MB shared L3, while the Pentium G4400 has 4 MB shared L3. Despite the Pentium’s larger L3, the i3 still wins multicore tests, suggesting thread count matters more than cache size in these workloads.

Memory support diverges. The i3-5020U supports only DDR3, dual-channel, with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Pentium G4400 supports both DDR3 and DDR4, dual-channel, with a higher 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC memory. PCIe connectivity also differs: the i3 has Gen 2 with 12 lanes (CPU only), while the Pentium has Gen 3 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The desktop part has a clear platform advantage for expansion and memory bandwidth.

Integrated graphics differ as well. The i3-5020U carries Intel HD 5500, while the Pentium G4400 has Intel HD 510. Both are entry-level iGPUs, but the HD 5500 in the mobile part is a higher-tier solution. Power consumption is another major split: the i3-5020U has a 15 W TDP, typical for ultraportable designs, while the Pentium G4400 draws 51 W. The Pentium’s higher power envelope enables its 3.30 GHz base clock, but it also means a desktop cooler and motherboard are required.

Production status and release dates also differ. The i3-5020U was released on 2015-02-28 and is marked end-of-life. The Pentium G4400 arrived later on 2015-08-31 and remains active in production. The i3 has a launch MSRP of $281, while no launch MSRP is recorded for the Pentium. The i3’s part number is SR240; the Pentium’s is SR2DC.

The Verdict

From the recorded data, the Intel Core i3-5020U is the better overall processor for multi-threaded tasks. It wins 6 of 7 head-to-head benchmarks, including all Cinebench tests and Geekbench multicore. Its 15.7% lead in Geekbench multicore is the only margin that matters in practice. For rendering, video encoding, or any workload that uses four threads, the i3-5020U is the safer choice.

The Intel Pentium G4400 is the pick for single-thread performance and desktop platform flexibility. Its 11.2% Geekbench single-core advantage is real, and its higher base clock of 3.30 GHz gives it an edge in lightly threaded applications. It also supports DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes, making it a better fit for a modern desktop build. The larger 4 MB L3 cache and active production status are additional points in its favor.

However, the i3-5020U is a mobile part, so the comparison is not straightforward. The i3 is meant for laptops and low-power systems with its 15 W TDP and BGA 1168 socket. The Pentium is a desktop chip requiring Socket 1151 and a 51 W cooling solution. The choice depends on the platform first, performance second. If the system is mobile, the i3-5020U is the only option here. If building a desktop, the Pentium G4400 offers better single-core speed, memory bandwidth, and expansion, despite losing the multicore tests by small margins.

The average benchmark scores reinforce this: 757 for the i3 versus 740 for the Pentium, a 2.3% overall difference. Both sit at the 20th percentile among all CPUs, meaning they are entry-level parts by modern standards. Neither will impress in demanding workloads, but both handle basic productivity and light multitasking adequately.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher multi-core performance?

A: The Intel Core i3-5020U wins all multi-core tests. It scores 188 versus 187 in Cinebench R15, 787 versus 781 in R20, 1876 versus 1861 in R23, and 1379 versus 1192 in Geekbench multicore (a 15.7% lead).

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

A: The Intel Pentium G4400 wins Geekbench single-core with 784 versus 696, an 11.2% advantage. Cinebench single-core tests are nearly tied, with R20 at 110 for both and R23 at 264 versus 262 for the i3.

Q: What are the core and thread counts?

A: Both have 2 cores. The i3-5020U has 4 threads, while the Pentium G4400 has 2 threads.

Q: What memory types do they support?

A: The i3-5020U supports DDR3 only, dual-channel, with 25.6 GB/s bandwidth. The Pentium G4400 supports DDR3 and DDR4, dual-channel, with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Neither supports ECC.

Q: What are the power consumption figures?

A: The i3-5020U has a 15 W TDP. The Pentium G4400 has a 51 W TDP. The i3 is a mobile part, while the Pentium is a desktop part.

Q: What is the release date and production status?

A: The i3-5020U was released on 2015-02-28 and is end-of-life. The Pentium G4400 was released on 2015-08-31 and is still active in production.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i3-5020U | Intel Pentium G4400 |

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

| Threads | 4 | 2 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.30 GHz |

| TDP | 15 W | 51 W |

| Socket | Intel BGA 1168 | Intel Socket 1151 |

| Architecture | Broadwell | Skylake |

| Codename | Broadwell-U | Skylake |

| Generation | Core i3 (Broadwell-U) | Pentium (Skylake) |

| Transistors | 1,300 million | 1,400 million |

| Die Size | 82 mm² | 150 mm² |

| L3 Cache | 3 MB (shared) | 4 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR3 | DDR3, DDR4 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | 34.1 GB/s |

| PCIe | Gen 2, 12 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 3, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Intel HD 5500 | Intel HD 510 |

| Market Segment | Mobile | Desktop |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2015-02-28 | 2015-08-31 |

| Launch MSRP | $281 | Not recorded |

| Part Number | SR240 | SR2DC |