Celeron G5900 vs Pentium G4520

Intel

Celeron G5900

2 Cores2 Thrd58 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2020
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium G4520

2 Cores2 Thrd51 WWMax: 3.6 GHz2015
Similar parts
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Celeron G5900 vs Pentium G4520 Performance Spectrum

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Celeron G5900 vs Pentium G4520 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Celeron G5900 vs Pentium G4520: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Celeron G5900

2020

Why buy it

  • +0.4% higher PassMark.
  • Costs $36 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
  • Delivers 72.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 53.6 vs 31.0 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 610, while Pentium G4520 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 4 MB).

Pentium G4520

2015

Why buy it

  • +100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).
  • Draws 51W instead of 58W, a 7W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,670 vs 2,682).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 31.0 vs 53.6 PassMark/$ ($86 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
  • No integrated graphics, while Celeron G5900 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G5900 better than Pentium G4520?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium G4520 is ahead with a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G5900 pulls ahead with 0.4% better PassMark. Pentium G4520 also has the bigger cache pool with 100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G5900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Celeron G5900 is the better buy right now. Celeron G5900 comes in $36 cheaper on MSRP at $50 MSRP versus $86 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark. The compromise is that Pentium G4520 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 2.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 72.8% better value on MSRP (53.6 vs 31.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron G5900 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2020 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron G5900 vs Pentium G4520 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Intel

Celeron G5900

The Celeron G5900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 58 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 2,682 points. Launch price was $69.

Intel

Pentium G4520

The Pentium G4520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,670 points. Launch price was $93.

Processing Power

Both the Celeron G5900 and Pentium G4520 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Celeron G5900 versus 3.6 GHz on the Pentium G4520 — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Pentium G4520 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Celeron G5900 uses the Comet Lake (2020−2025) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium G4520 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G5900 scores 2,682 against the Pentium G4520's 2,670 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron G5900. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G5900 vs 4 MB (total) on the Pentium G4520.

FeatureCeleron G5900Pentium G4520
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz
3.6 GHz+6%
Base Clock
3.4 GHz
3.6 GHz+6%
L3 Cache
2 MB (total)
4 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
256K (per core)
Process
14 nm
14 nm
Architecture
Comet Lake (2020−2025)
Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark
2,682
2,670
Geekbench 6 Single
850
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,600
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Memory & Platform

The Celeron G5900 uses the LGA1200 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium G4520 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCeleron G5900Pentium G4520
Socket
LGA1200
LGA1151
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
Yes
PCIe Lanes
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron G5900) / not specified (Pentium G4520). The Celeron G5900 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 610), while the Pentium G4520 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G5900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G5900 rivals Pentium Gold G6400.

FeatureCeleron G5900Pentium G4520
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
UHD Graphics 610
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x
Target Use
Budget
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Celeron G5900 was priced at $50, while the Pentium G4520 came in at $86. On launch pricing ($50 vs $86), Celeron G5900 was $36 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G5900 delivers 53.6 pts/$ vs 31.0 pts/$ for the Pentium G4520 — making the Celeron G5900 the 53.4% better value option.

FeatureCeleron G5900Pentium G4520
MSRP
$50-42%
$86
Performance per Dollar
53.6+73%
31.0
Release Date
2020
2015

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