Core i5-2500S vs Pentium Gold G5420T
Core i5-2500S
Pentium Gold G5420T
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Core i5-2500S is positioned at rank #854 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2500S
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-2500S | Pentium Gold G5420T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($61) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-2500S | Pentium Gold G5420T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($61) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-2500S and Pentium Gold G5420T
Core i5-2500S
The Core i5-2500S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,373 points. Launch price was $75.
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
The Core i5-2500S packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Pentium Gold G5420T offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2500S has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Core i5-2500S versus 3.2 GHz on the Pentium Gold G5420T — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-2500S (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i5-2500S uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium Gold G5420T uses Coffee Lake (2017−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-2500S scores 3,373 against the Pentium Gold G5420T's 3,370 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-2500S. L3 cache: 6144 kB (total) on the Core i5-2500S vs 4 MB on the Pentium Gold G5420T.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | Pentium Gold G5420T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+16% | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 3.2 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 6144 kB (total)+50% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,373 | 3,370 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 600 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-2500S uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Gold G5420T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | Pentium Gold G5420T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2500S) / not specified (Pentium Gold G5420T). The Core i5-2500S includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 2000), while the Pentium Gold G5420T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2500S targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2500S rivals Phenom II X4 980.
| Feature | Core i5-2500S | Pentium Gold G5420T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | — |
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