Pentium Silver N5000 vs Xeon D-1602

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.

Pentium Silver N5000 vs Xeon D-1602 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.

Pentium Silver N5000 vs Xeon D-1602: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Pentium Silver N5000

2017

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 3 MB).
✅Draws 6W instead of 27W, a 21W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,442 vs 2,459).

Xeon D-1602

2019

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (3 MB vs 4 MB).
❌350% higher power demand at 27W vs 6W.

Quick Answers

So, is Xeon D-1602 better than Pentium Silver N5000?

Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Xeon D-1602 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Pentium Silver N5000 is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Xeon D-1602 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.1% more average FPS across 48 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Xeon D-1602 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Xeon D-1602 still makes the most sense overall. Xeon D-1602 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

Xeon D-1602 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2017) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Pentium Silver N5000 vs Xeon D-1602 Technical Specifications

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

Pentium Silver N5000

The Pentium Silver N5000 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2017 (7 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont Plus (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,442 points. Launch price was $161.

Xeon D-1602

The Xeon D-1602 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell (2015−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1667. Thermal design power (TDP): 27 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,459 points. Launch price was $106.

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Processing Power

The Pentium Silver N5000 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Xeon D-1602 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium Silver N5000 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium Silver N5000 versus 3.2 GHz on the Xeon D-1602 — a 16.9% clock advantage for the Xeon D-1602 (base: 1.1 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Pentium Silver N5000 uses the Goldmont Plus (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon D-1602 uses Broadwell (2015−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Silver N5000 scores 2,442 against the Xeon D-1602's 2,459 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon D-1602. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Pentium Silver N5000 vs 3 MB on the Xeon D-1602.

Feature	Pentium Silver N5000	Xeon D-1602
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	3.2 GHz+19%
Base Clock	1.1 GHz	2.5 GHz+127%
L3 Cache	4 MB+33%	3 MB
L2 Cache	4 MB (total)+700%	512 kB
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Goldmont Plus (2017)	Broadwell (2015−2019)
PassMark	2,442	2,459

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Memory & Platform

The Pentium Silver N5000 uses the FCBGA1090 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon D-1602 uses FCBGA1667 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.