
Pentium G3420 vs Core M-5Y51

Pentium G3420

Core M-5Y51
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Pentium G3420 is positioned at rank 714 and the Core M-5Y51 is on rank 1154, so the Pentium G3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420
Performance Per Dollar Core M-5Y51
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core M-5Y51 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($281) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-Y (2014) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core M-5Y51 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+600%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($281) |
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 Pentium G3420 and Core M-5Y51

Pentium G3420
The Pentium G3420 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 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,022 points. Launch price was $252.

Core M-5Y51
The Core M-5Y51 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 October 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-Y (2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1234. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,030 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core M-5Y51's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3420 versus 2.6 GHz on the Core M-5Y51 — a 20.7% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Pentium G3420 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core M-5Y51 uses Broadwell-Y (2014) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3420 scores 2,022 against the Core M-5Y51's 2,030 — a 0.4% lead for the Core M-5Y51. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3420 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core M-5Y51.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core M-5Y51 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+23% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+191% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Broadwell-Y (2014) |
| PassMark | 2,022 | 2,030 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3420 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core M-5Y51 uses FCBGA1234 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core M-5Y51 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | FCBGA1234 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3420 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Core M-5Y51 debuted at $281. At current prices ($40 vs $281), the Pentium G3420 is $241 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G3420 delivers 50.5 pts/$ vs 7.2 pts/$ for the Core M-5Y51 — making the Pentium G3420 the 150% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core M-5Y51 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-69% | $281 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-86% | $281 |
| Performance per Dollar | 50.5+601% | 7.2 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2014 |
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