Intel Core i5-680 vs Intel Pentium G4520 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Pentium G4520 records an average benchmark score of 778, while the Intel Core i5-680 records 772. Both processors sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs in the database.

Q: How do the two chips compare in multi-core rendering workloads?

A: The Pentium G4520 edges ahead in every recorded multi-core test. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 2261 versus 2243 for the i5-680, a 0.8% lead. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the margin is 227 versus 226, a 0.4% difference.

Q: Are the single-core scores meaningfully different?

A: The differences are small but consistent. The Pentium G4520 leads by 0.8% in Cinebench R20 single-core (133 versus 132) and by 0.9% in Cinebench R23 single-core (319 versus 316). The i5-680 never wins a single test.

Q: What generation and process node does each chip use?

A: The Pentium G4520 is a Skylake part built on Intel's 14 nm process with 1,400 million transistors on a 150 mm² die. The Core i5-680 is a Clarkdale part (Westmere architecture) built on 32 nm with 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory types?

A: No. The Pentium G4520 supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s, while the Core i5-680 supports only DDR3 with a bandwidth of 21.3 GB/s.

Q: What are the production statuses of these two chips?

A: The Pentium G4520 is listed as Active, while the Core i5-680 is listed as End-of-life. The i5-680 carries a launch MSRP of $294, while the Pentium G4520 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The Pentium G4520 and Core i5-680 belong to entirely different eras of Intel silicon. The Pentium G4520 is a Skylake product built on a 14 nm process, while the Core i5-680 is a Clarkdale part built on 32 nm. The process gap shows up in transistor counts: the Pentium integrates 1,400 million transistors across a 150 mm² die, whereas the i5-680 uses only 382 million transistors on an 81 mm² die. That is a 3.7x transistor advantage for the Pentium despite a die that is less than twice the size.

Core and thread layouts differ as well. The Pentium G4520 offers 2 cores and 2 threads, with no boost clock, running at a fixed 3.60 GHz. The i5-680 also has 2 cores but adds Hyper-Threading for 4 threads, with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.87 GHz. The i5-680 cannot leverage its extra threads in these workloads, as the benchmark results show, but the architectural intent is clear: one is a dual-core with simultaneous multi-threading, the other is a plain dual-core.

Cache hierarchies are identical in structure: both have 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The memory interfaces, however, diverge sharply. The Pentium G4520 supports DDR3 and DDR4 across a dual-channel bus with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The i5-680 is limited to DDR3 on a dual-channel bus with 21.3 GB/s. That is a 60% bandwidth advantage for the Pentium, which may matter in memory-sensitive workloads even if the raw compute scores are close.

The sockets are incompatible. The Pentium G4520 uses Intel Socket 1151 and PCIe Gen 3 with 16 CPU lanes, while the i5-680 uses Intel Socket 1156 and PCIe Gen 2 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Pentium carries Intel HD 530, whereas the i5-680 carries an unspecified Intel HD solution. The Pentium is part of the Skylake generation, the i5-680 is part of the Westmere/Clarkdale generation, and the production status reflects that: Pentium is Active, i5-680 is End-of-life.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Pentium G4520 is the stronger processor in every recorded benchmark. It wins all five head-to-head tests, with margins ranging from 0.4% to 0.9%. The largest single win is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Pentium leads by 0.9% (319 versus 316). The smallest is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the lead is 0.4% (227 versus 226).

Who should pick which? From the recorded data, the Pentium G4520 is the better choice for anyone who cares about Cinebench scores, whether single-core or multi-core. It also offers a more modern platform: a newer socket, faster PCIe generation, higher memory bandwidth, and support for DDR4. The i5-680 does have one advantage in thread count (4 threads versus 2), but that advantage does not translate into a win in any of the measurements in the database. The i5-680's boost clock of 3.87 GHz also fails to overcome the Pentium's architectural advantages.

For a user already on Socket 1156, the i5-680 might be a drop-in consideration, but the data shows the Pentium G4520 simply performs better across the board. The i5-680 is end-of-life and lacks the memory flexibility and bandwidth of the Skylake part. The verdict is not close in any individual test, and the aggregate average benchmark score confirms it: 778 for the Pentium versus 772 for the i5-680.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in several key specification fields. The Pentium G4520 has 2 cores and 2 threads, while the i5-680 has 2 cores and 4 threads. Both run at a 3.60 GHz base clock, but the i5-680 adds a 3.87 GHz boost clock that the Pentium lacks. Thermal design power differs substantially: the Pentium is rated at 51 W, the i5-680 at 73 W.

The sockets are different: the Pentium uses Intel Socket 1151, the i5-680 uses Intel Socket 1156. The architecture and codename differ: Skylake for the Pentium, Westmere (Clarkdale) for the i5-680. Process nodes differ by two generations of Intel manufacturing: 14 nm versus 32 nm. Transistor counts are 1,400 million versus 382 million, and die sizes are 150 mm² versus 81 mm².

Memory support is a major differentiator. The Pentium supports DDR3 and DDR4; the i5-680 supports only DDR3. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s. PCIe generation differs as well: Gen 3 for the Pentium, Gen 2 for the i5-680. Integrated graphics are Intel HD 530 on the Pentium and Intel HD on the i5-680. The Pentium is Active in production status; the i5-680 is End-of-life. The i5-680 has a recorded launch MSRP of $294; the Pentium has no recorded launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are consistent across all five Cinebench tests. The Pentium G4520 wins every single one, but the margins are narrow. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium scores 227 against 226 for the i5-680, a 0.4% lead. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Pentium scores 949 against 942, a 0.7% lead. In Cinebench R20 single-core, the Pentium scores 133 against 132, a 0.8% lead. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Pentium scores 2261 against 2243, a 0.8% lead. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Pentium scores 319 against 316, a 0.9% lead.

The pattern is worth noting: the single-core margins are slightly larger than the multi-core margins in the R20 and R23 tests, but the R15 multi-core margin is the smallest at 0.4%. The i5-680's extra threads do not help it in multi-core tests; in fact, the Pentium's multi-core leads (0.4% to 0.8%) are comparable to its single-core leads (0.8% to 0.9%). This suggests that the Pentium's architectural efficiency, likely tied to the newer Skylake design and higher memory bandwidth, compensates for the i5-680's thread advantage.

The nearest rivals in the database provide context. The Pentium G4520's closest competitor is the AMD A10-5800K, with an identical average score of 778 and a 0% delta. The Intel Core i3-7100 scores 781, which is 0.4% higher than the Pentium. The i5-680's closest rival is the Intel Core i7-3687U, which scores 773, 0.1% higher. Both chips sit at the 21st percentile among all CPUs, placing them in the lower tier of the database, but the Pentium is consistently ahead within that tier.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium G4520 wins in every recorded benchmark category. In multi-core workloads, it leads by 0.4% in R15, 0.7% in R20, and 0.8% in R23. In single-core workloads, it leads by 0.8% in R20 and 0.9% in R23. The wins are consistent, but they are not dramatic; this is a processor that edges out its rival everywhere without dominating anywhere.

The i5-680 does not win any recorded benchmark. Its theoretical advantages, 4 threads versus 2 and a boost clock of 3.87 GHz versus no boost, do not materialize into any Cinebench victory. The i5-680's only potential wins are on platform grounds: it is a Socket 1156 part, which could matter to someone with an existing motherboard, and it has a recorded launch MSRP of $294. But the data shows no performance scenario where the i5-680 comes out ahead.

For use cases, the Pentium G4520 is the pick for anyone prioritizing Cinebench rendering performance, whether single-core or multi-core. The Pentium also wins on memory bandwidth (34.1 GB/s versus 21.3 GB/s), memory type flexibility (DDR3 and DDR4 versus DDR3 only), PCIe generation (Gen 3 versus Gen 2), and process efficiency (14 nm versus 32 nm, 51 W versus 73 W TDP). The i5-680's only recorded advantages are its thread count, its boost clock, and its end-of-life status, none of which change the benchmark outcomes. The database is unambiguous: the Pentium G4520 is the faster chip in every measured test.