Pentium Gold G5420 vs Core i5-2320
Pentium Gold G5420
Core i5-2320
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-2320
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Gold G5420 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Gold G5420 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($22) |
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 Gold G5420 and Core i5-2320
Pentium Gold G5420
The Pentium Gold G5420 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 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,700 points. Launch price was $64.
Core i5-2320
The Core i5-2320 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 3,688 points. Launch price was $160.
Processing Power
The Pentium Gold G5420 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i5-2320 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core i5-2320 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the Pentium Gold G5420 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-2320 — a 14.1% clock advantage for the Pentium Gold G5420 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Pentium Gold G5420 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-2320 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Gold G5420 scores 3,700 against the Core i5-2320's 3,688 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium Gold G5420. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 764 vs 560, a 30.8% lead for the Pentium Gold G5420 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Pentium Gold G5420 vs 6 MB (total) on the Core i5-2320.
| Feature | Pentium Gold G5420 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+15% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.8 GHz+27% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 6 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 3,700 | 3,688 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 764+36% | 560 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,515 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Gold G5420 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-2320 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Pentium Gold G5420 versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-2320 — the Pentium Gold G5420 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium Gold G5420 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H310,B360,B365,H370,Z370,Z390 (Pentium Gold G5420) and H61,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Z77 (Core i5-2320).
| Feature | Pentium Gold G5420 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Pentium Gold G5420) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i5-2320). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 610 (Pentium Gold G5420) and HD Graphics 2000 (Core i5-2320) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium Gold G5420 targets Office, Core i5-2320 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-2320 rivals Phenom II X4 965.
| Feature | Pentium Gold G5420 | Core i5-2320 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics 610 | HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x / VT-d / EPT | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | Office | Legacy Desktop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium Gold G5420 and Core i5-2320
