Intel Pentium Gold G5620 vs Intel Xeon E5620 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows a consistent and sweeping victory for the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 across every single workload measured. In five head-to-head comparisons, the Pentium Gold G5620 wins all five, while the Xeon E5620 records zero wins. The margin of victory is identical across all tests at 20.9 percent, which is a striking uniformity given the different workloads involved.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Pentium Gold G5620 scores 364 against the Xeon E5620's 301. That is a 20.9 percent advantage, and it is notable because the Xeon E5620 has twice the core count and twice the thread count. The Xeon packs four cores and eight threads, yet it cannot overcome the Pentium Gold's much higher base clock of 4.00 GHz versus 2.40 GHz. The single-core results tell an even clearer story, with the Pentium Gold G5620 scoring 51 in Cinebench R15 single-core; the Xeon E5620 does not have a recorded single-core score for that specific test. However, the newer Cinebench R20 and R23 single-core tests do include both chips.

In Cinebench R20 multi-core, the Pentium Gold G5620 posts 1517, while the Xeon E5620 manages 1255. The same 20.9 percent gap appears. The single-core R20 test shows 214 for the Pentium Gold and 177 for the Xeon, again a 20.9 percent difference. Moving to Cinebench R23 multi-core, the Pentium Gold G5620 reaches 3613, and the Xeon E5620 lands at 2989. The R23 single-core test closes the set with 510 for the Pentium Gold and 422 for the Xeon.

What stands out is that the Xeon E5620's extra cores and threads do not translate into a multi-core win. The Xeon's 32 nm process node and older Westmere architecture cannot match the efficiency and per-core performance of the Pentium Gold's 14 nm Coffee Lake design. Even in a purely multi-threaded workload, the Pentium Gold's four threads outperform the Xeon's eight threads. This indicates that clock speed and architectural efficiency matter more in these Cinebench loads than raw core count.

The average benchmark score in the database reinforces the head-to-head data. The Pentium Gold G5620 has an average benchmark score of 1045, placing it at the 29th percentile among all CPUs. The Xeon E5620 averages 1029, sitting at the 28th percentile. The difference is small in percentile terms, but the head-to-head results show the Pentium Gold is decisively faster in every measured Cinebench workload.

Nearest rival data places the Pentium Gold G5620 alongside the AMD PRO A10-9700 with a 0 percent delta, the Intel Core i5-6350HQ also at 0 percent, and the AMD PRO A10-8770 at -0.1 percent. The Xeon E5620's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B at 0.2 percent, the Intel Pentium G4560 at -0.2 percent, and the Intel Core i7-5650U at 4 percent. The Xeon E5620's average score sits very close to the Pentium G5620's, but the head-to-head testing shows the newer Pentium chip is simply faster.

Architecture Differences

The Pentium Gold G5620 and Xeon E5620 belong to completely different eras of Intel silicon. The Pentium Gold G5620 is built on the Coffee Lake architecture, with a 14 nm process node, while the Xeon E5620 uses the Westmere-EP architecture on a 32 nm node. This two-generation process gap is central to explaining the benchmark results. The 14 nm node allows for significantly higher clock speeds and better power efficiency, both of which are evident in the data.

The Pentium Gold G5620 has two cores and four threads, with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and no boost clock recorded. The Xeon E5620 has four cores and eight threads, with a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 2.67 GHz. Despite having half the cores and half the threads, the Pentium Gold's much higher base clock allows it to dominate in both single-core and multi-core Cinebench tests. The Xeon's boost clock of 2.67 GHz is still far below the Pentium Gold's fixed 4.00 GHz.

Cache configurations also differ substantially. The Pentium Gold G5620 has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The Xeon E5620 has the same 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core, but its shared L3 cache is 12 MB. That is three times the L3 cache of the Pentium Gold. Yet even with this larger cache, the Xeon cannot overcome the clock speed disadvantage in these benchmarks.

Process node details further separate the two. The Xeon E5620 has 1,170 million transistors and a die size of 239 mm². The Pentium Gold G5620's transistor count is not recorded, but its die size is 126 mm². The Xeon's larger die and older 32 nm process are consistent with its server-oriented design from 2010, while the Pentium Gold's smaller die on 14 nm reflects a much later release.

Memory support is another major divergence. The Pentium Gold G5620 supports DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The Xeon E5620 supports DDR3 memory on a triple-channel bus, with no memory bandwidth figure recorded. Both CPUs support ECC memory, which is noteworthy for the Pentium Gold given its desktop market segment. The Pentium Gold uses PCIe Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon E5620 uses PCIe Gen 2. The Pentium Gold also includes integrated graphics in the form of UHD Graphics 630, while the Xeon E5620 has no integrated graphics at all.

The sockets are incompatible: the Pentium Gold G5620 uses Intel Socket 1151, and the Xeon E5620 uses Intel Socket 1366. This means any platform decision between the two requires a completely different motherboard and memory type. The Pentium Gold is classified as a Desktop part, while the Xeon E5620 is classified as Server/Workstation. Both are end-of-life in production status, and both have locked multipliers.

Release dates reflect the generation gap. The Pentium Gold G5620 was released in February 2019, while the Xeon E5620 was released in March 2010. That is a nine-year gap in release timing, which explains the architectural and process differences. The Pentium Gold has a launch MSRP of $93, while the Xeon E5620 has no launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the Intel Pentium Gold G5620 is the faster processor in every recorded benchmark. Across Cinebench R15, R20, and R23, in both single-core and multi-core tests, the Pentium Gold wins by exactly 20.9 percent. The Xeon E5620's advantage in core count, thread count, and L3 cache size does not translate into any performance win in the database.

The Pentium Gold G5620 is the better choice for anyone prioritizing raw Cinebench performance, single-thread speed, and modern platform features. Its 4.00 GHz base clock, DDR4 memory support, PCIe Gen 3, and integrated graphics make it a more complete package for desktop use. The Xeon E5620, despite its eight threads and 12 MB of L3 cache, is consistently slower in these tests. Its older 32 nm process, lower clock speeds, and DDR3 memory support limit its performance.

The Xeon E5620 does have some theoretical advantages that the benchmark data does not capture. It has four physical cores and eight threads, which could be beneficial in workloads that scale beyond what Cinebench measures. Its triple-channel DDR3 memory bus and server/workstation classification suggest it was designed for multi-socket server environments. However, the recorded data shows no workload where the Xeon wins.

For a buyer choosing between these two based solely on the database, the Pentium Gold G5620 is the clear pick. It wins all five head-to-head comparisons, has a higher average benchmark score, and offers more modern features. The Xeon E5620's only advantages are its core count, thread count, and L3 cache size, none of which produce a benchmark win.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ in nearly every major specification category. The Pentium Gold G5620 has 2 cores and 4 threads, while the Xeon E5620 has 4 cores and 8 threads. The Pentium Gold has a base clock of 4.00 GHz with no boost clock, while the Xeon has a base clock of 2.40 GHz and a boost clock of 2.67 GHz. The Pentium Gold has a TDP of 54 watts, while the Xeon has a TDP of 80 watts.

The process nodes differ: the Pentium Gold uses 14 nm, and the Xeon uses 32 nm. The Xeon has 1,170 million transistors and a die size of 239 mm², while the Pentium Gold's transistor count is not recorded and its die size is 126 mm². Cache differs in L3 only: the Pentium Gold has 4 MB shared L3, while the Xeon has 12 MB shared L3. Both have 64 KB L1 per core and 256 KB L2 per core.

Memory support differs completely. The Pentium Gold supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Xeon supports DDR3 on a triple-channel bus with no bandwidth figure recorded. Both support ECC memory. PCIe generation differs: the Pentium Gold has Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, while the Xeon has Gen 2. The Pentium Gold includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, while the Xeon has none. Sockets differ, with the Pentium Gold on Socket 1151 and the Xeon on Socket 1366. Release dates differ, with the Pentium Gold in February 2019 and the Xeon in March 2010. The Pentium Gold has a launch MSRP of $93, while the Xeon has no launch MSRP recorded.

The part numbers are SR3YC for the Pentium Gold and SLBV4 for the Xeon. The Pentium Gold is classified as Desktop, the Xeon as Server/Workstation. Both are end-of-life, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

The Pentium Gold has a percentile rank of 29 among all CPUs, and the Xeon has a percentile rank of 28. The average benchmark scores are 1045 for the Pentium Gold and 1029 for the Xeon. The nearest rivals for the Pentium Gold include the AMD PRO A10-9700 at 0 percent delta, the Intel Core i5-6350HQ at 0 percent, and the AMD PRO A10-8770 at -0.1 percent. The nearest rivals for the Xeon include the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202B at 0.2 percent, the Intel Pentium G4560 at -0.2 percent, and the Intel Core i7-5650U at 0.2 percent.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has more cores and threads?

A: The Xeon E5620 has 4 cores and 8 threads, while the Pentium Gold G5620 has 2 cores and 4 threads.

Q: Which CPU has more L3 cache?

A: The Xeon E5620 has 12 MB shared L3 cache, three times the 4 MB shared L3 cache of the Pentium Gold G5620.

Q: Which CPU is faster in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Pentium Gold G5620 scores 3613, which is 20.9 percent ahead of the Xeon E5620's 2989.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics; which has none?

A: The Pentium Gold G5620 includes UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, while the Xeon E5620 has no integrated graphics.

Q: Which CPU has DDR4 memory?

A: The Pentium Gold G5620 supports DDR4 on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the Xeon E5620 supports DDR3 on a triple-channel bus.

Q: Which CPU has a higher base clock?

A: The Pentium Gold G5620 has a base clock of 4.00 GHz, versus the Xeon E5620's 2.40 GHz.

Q: Which CPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Pentium Gold G5620 has an average benchmark score of 1045, while the Xeon E5620 has an average of 1029.

Where Each One Wins

The Pentium Gold G5620 wins every recorded benchmark. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 364 versus 301. In Cinebench R20 multi-core, it scores 1517 versus 1255. In Cinebench R20 single-core, it scores 214 versus 177. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 3613 versus 2989. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 510 versus 422. All wins are by 20.9 percent.

The Xeon E5620 wins no recorded benchmarks. Its advantages exist only in specifications: four cores versus two, eight threads versus four, 12 MB L3 versus 4 MB, and triple-channel DDR3 versus dual-channel DDR4. These advantages do not produce any performance win in the database.

For workloads that resemble Cinebench R15, R20, or R23, the Pentium Gold G5620 is the superior choice. Its higher clock speed and modern 14 nm architecture deliver consistently better results. For workloads that heavily rely on core count and thread count beyond what Cinebench measures, the Xeon E5620's eight threads and larger cache could theoretically be useful, but the recorded data provides no evidence of this.

The Pentium Gold G5620 also benefits from modern platform features: DDR4 memory, PCIe Gen 3, and integrated graphics. The Xeon E5620 relies on older DDR3 memory, PCIe Gen 2, and requires a separate graphics card. The Pentium Gold's lower TDP of 54 watts versus 80 watts makes it more power-efficient as well.

In short, the Pentium Gold G5620 is the winner in every measured category, and the Xeon E5620's specification advantages do not translate into benchmark victories. Any user selecting between these two should choose the Pentium Gold based on the recorded data.