Intel Pentium G4520

The Intel Pentium G4520 is a Skylake-generation desktop processor from Intel, built on the 14 nm process with two cores and two threads. It runs at a fixed 3.60 GHz with no boost clock, uses Intel Socket 1151, and includes Intel HD 530 integrated graphics. Its average benchmark score is 781, which places it at the 20th percentile of all CPUs in the benchmark database.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data leads to a direct conclusion: the G4520 is a low-position desktop processor by aggregate score, but it sits inside a very tight cluster of comparable parts. The average benchmark score of 781 puts it at the 20th percentile of all CPUs, meaning the database shows a large majority of processors scoring above it. In Cinebench R23, the multicore score is 2269 and the single-core score is 320. In Cinebench R20, the multicore score is 952 and the single-core score is 134. The only R15 result in the data is a multicore score of 228.

The nearest rivals confirm that the G4520 is not an isolated outlier; it is separated from every listed rival by less than one point of aggregate score in percentage terms. The G4520 is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i5-760, which has an average score of 779. It is 0.2% behind the Intel Celeron G5900, which averages 783. The Intel Core i5-3320M also averages 779, and the G4520 is 0.3% ahead of it. The AMD A10-5800K averages 778, and the G4520 is 0.4% ahead of it. These deltas are small enough that aggregate benchmark performance is effectively a tie among all five processors.

The 20th percentile standing is more revealing than any single Cinebench number. The G4520 can produce usable scores in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tests, but its aggregate position places it clearly in the lower end of the database. The average benchmark score of 781 is the summary metric that best captures this: close to the rival cluster, far from the upper portion of the performance distribution.

How It Compares

Intel Core i5-760: The i5-760 has an average score of 779, and the G4520 leads it by 0.2%. That is the smallest positive delta in the rival group. The aggregate scores are 781 versus 779, so the two processors are functionally indistinguishable in the benchmark data.

Intel Celeron G5900: The Celeron G5900 is the only listed rival ahead of the G4520, with an average score of 783. The margin is 0.2%, and the sign of the delta is negative for the Pentium. This is a very narrow gap, and the two parts occupy the same performance neighborhood.

Intel Core i5-3320M: The i5-3320M also averages 779. The G4520 is 0.3% ahead of it. Despite the different positioning implied by the names, the aggregate benchmark data places them at almost the same level.

AMD A10-5800K: The A10-5800K has the lowest average score of the group at 778. The G4520 is 0.4% ahead of it, which is the largest delta in either direction among the four rivals. Even this widest gap is still small in aggregate terms, so the A10-5800K remains a close comparison rather than a class below.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

With two cores and two threads, the G4520’s multi-threaded scores come from a two-thread engine rather than a high-core-count design. The R20 single-core score is 134, while the R20 multicore score is 952. In R23, the single-core score is 320 and the multicore score is 2269. The multicore results are higher, as expected, but the absolute values remain modest because only two threads are available to feed the workload.

The cache layout supports this workload profile. Each core has 64 KB of L1 and 256 KB of L2, and the chip has 4 MB of shared L3. The per-core L1 and L2 allocations are useful for lightly threaded code, while the shared L3 pool is small by current desktop standards. This cache configuration is consistent with a processor aimed at everyday tasks rather than heavy parallel scaling.

Because no boost clock is listed, the G4520 cannot raise frequency above 3.60 GHz for short single-threaded bursts. That makes the R23 single-core score of 320 a direct result of the Skylake architecture running at its fixed base clock. The single-thread scores are not the main reason for the 20th percentile standing; the multi-thread scores are. The R15 multicore score of 228 is the lowest major multi-thread data point in the set, and it reinforces the two-thread limitation.

FAQ

Q: Does the G4520 support ECC memory?

A: No. ECC memory support is not available. The processor supports DDR3 and DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: It has two cores and two threads. It does not provide additional threads per core, and the multiplier is not unlocked.

Q: What socket does this processor use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 1151. It is a desktop Skylake part manufactured on Intel’s 14 nm process.

Q: Does it include integrated graphics?

A: Yes. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 530. The CPU also provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes for processor-attached devices.

Q: Does it have a boost clock?

A: No. The base clock is 3.60 GHz, and no boost clock is listed.

Q: When was it released, and is it still in production?

A: The release date is 2015-08-31, and production status is listed as Active. The part number is SR2HM.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark data points to a clear recommendation: this processor is for workloads that do not require more than two threads. With a 3.60 GHz base clock, an R23 single-core score of 320, and built-in Intel HD 530 graphics, it can handle everyday desktop tasks and office-style productivity without a separate graphics card. The 20th percentile overall standing indicates that it is not well suited to CPU-heavy gaming or multi-threaded content creation.

For gaming, the relevant numbers are the multicore results. The R23 multicore score of 2269 and R15 multicore score of 228 show that the two-thread design will be a limiting factor in titles that scale across many cores. Games that rely primarily on one or two threads are a better fit, but the absence of a boost clock caps the single-thread performance at what the 3.60 GHz base clock can deliver.

For content creation, the multicore scores are the deciding factor. Rendering and encoding workloads are represented by the multicore results, and those results are low in absolute terms. The R20 multicore score of 952 is far below what a high-core-count processor would produce. Users whose primary workload is multi-threaded rendering should look elsewhere. The G4520 is best suited to basic desktop builds, office tasks, and systems where the integrated Intel HD 530 can provide display output without an extra GPU.

Platform and Compatibility

The G4520 is built for Intel Socket 1151 and belongs to the Skylake architecture. It supports both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, so the motherboard must match the chosen memory type. The memory interface is dual-channel with 34.1 GB/s of bandwidth. This gives system builders flexibility in memory selection, but it also means the motherboard platform determines which memory generation is actually usable.

PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU only. That lane count is the path for a discrete graphics card or other high-throughput PCIe devices. Because the lanes are CPU-only, expansion bandwidth is tied directly to the processor package. The platform also lacks ECC memory support, which places it in consumer desktop territory rather than error-correcting server or workstation territory.

Integrated graphics are present in the form of Intel HD 530, so a separate GPU is not mandatory for basic display output. Production status is Active, and the release date is 2015-08-31. As an Active Socket 1151 desktop part, it remains available for new builds on that platform. The platform’s upgrade path is defined by Socket 1151 compatibility, dual-channel DDR3/DDR4 memory support, and the 16 PCIe Gen 3 CPU lanes.

Power and Thermals

The G4520 has a 51 W TDP. That is a modest power envelope for a desktop processor, and it implies that cooling does not need to be elaborate. The physical design behind that thermal class includes Intel’s 14 nm process, 1,400 million transistors, and a 150 mm² die size. These figures put the chip in a low-power segment of the desktop market.

Since no boost clock is listed, the maximum sustained frequency is the 3.60 GHz base clock. This keeps thermal behavior predictable under sustained load because the processor does not have a turbo mechanism to push power draw above the base operating point. The locked multiplier reinforces this: users cannot raise the clock speed, so the 51 W TDP describes the stock operating envelope without overclocking headroom.

For cooling, a simple air cooler is within the thermal envelope implied by the 51 W TDP. The combination of a low core count, a fixed base clock, and a mature 14 nm process keeps the thermal requirements modest. The data does not suggest any need for high-end cooling, only that the processor be paired with a cooler capable of handling its stock power level.