Core i3-4130 vs Pentium Gold G5420T

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.

Core i3-4130 vs Pentium Gold G5420T 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.

Core i3-4130 vs Pentium Gold G5420T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-4130

2013

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.3% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 4400, while Pentium Gold G5420T needs a discrete GPU.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium Gold G5420T.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (3,334 vs 3,370).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 4 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $117 MSRP, while Pentium Gold G5420T mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌54.3% higher power demand at 54W vs 35W.

Pentium Gold G5420T

2019

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Draws 35W instead of 54W, a 19W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i3-4130 across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-4130 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i3-4130.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Gold G5420T better than Core i3-4130?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i3-4130 is ahead with a 3.3% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold G5420T pulls ahead with 1.1% better PassMark. Pentium Gold G5420T also has the bigger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium Gold G5420T is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium Gold G5420T is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Gold G5420T comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $117 MSRP, and it still gives you 1.1% better PassMark. Core i3-4130 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2013 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (28.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1150.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium Gold G5420T makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2013), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-4130 vs Pentium Gold G5420T Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-4130

The Core i3-4130 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,334 points. Launch price was $120.

Pentium Gold G5420T

The Pentium Gold G5420T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,370 points. Launch price was $64.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-4130 and Pentium Gold G5420T share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-4130 versus 3.2 GHz on the Pentium Gold G5420T — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Core i3-4130 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-4130 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium Gold G5420T uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4130 scores 3,334 against the Pentium Gold G5420T's 3,370 — a 1.1% lead for the Pentium Gold G5420T. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-4130 vs 4 MB on the Pentium Gold G5420T.

Feature	Core i3-4130	Pentium Gold G5420T
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+6%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+6%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	4 MB+33%
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	512 kB+100%
Process	22 nm	14 nm-36%
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Coffee Lake (2017−2019)
PassMark	3,334	3,370+1%
Cinebench R23 Multi	2,036	—
Geekbench 6 Single	1,046	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4130 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Gold G5420T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-4130	Pentium Gold G5420T
Socket	LGA1150	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	16	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-4130) / not specified (Pentium Gold G5420T). The Core i3-4130 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4400), while the Pentium Gold G5420T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4130 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-4130 rivals FX-4130.