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Intel Pentium G4520

Intel Pentium G4520: Review and Practical Guide for Budget Builds (2025)

Introduction

The Intel Pentium G4520 processor, released in 2016, remains a popular choice for ultra-budget PCs even in 2025. Despite its age, it is used in office systems, media centers, and basic home computers. In this article, we will examine its strengths and weaknesses, compatibility, and relevance in today's environment.

1. Key Specifications: Skylake Architecture and More

Architecture and Manufacturing Process

The Pentium G4520 is built on the Skylake microarchitecture (14 nm). This sixth generation of Intel Core brought support for DDR4, improved power consumption, and more powerful integrated graphics. However, in 2025, 14 nm technology is considered outdated compared to AMD and Intel's 7 nm and 5 nm processors.

Key Features:

- 2 Cores / 2 Threads: No Hyper-Threading, which limits multitasking.

- Base Clock: 3.6 GHz (no turbo boost).

- L3 Cache: 4 MB — sufficient for basic applications.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 (24 EU). Supports 4K@60Hz via DisplayPort.

Performance

According to Geekbench 6 tests (2025):

- Single-Core: 767 points.

- Multi-Core: 1231 points.

For comparison: the modern Celeron G6900 (2023) scores ~1200/2400 points. The Pentium G4520 is suitable for basic tasks: office applications, a browser with 5-10 tabs, and video playback.

2. Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1151 Socket and Chipsets

Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses LGA 1151 (v1), compatible with the following chipsets:

- H110: Budget option without overclocking and excess ports.

- B150/H170: More USB and SATA ports, support for PCIe 3.0.

- Z170: For enthusiasts (memory overclocking, SLI), but the Pentium G4520 does not support overclocking.

Examples of motherboards in 2025:

- ASUS H110M-K: New ~ $60 (remaining stock).

- Gigabyte B150M-D3H: Used starting at $30.

Tip: Look for motherboards with HDMI/DisplayPort for using the integrated graphics. Avoid expensive Z170 boards — their features are excessive for the Pentium.

3. Supported Memory: DDR4-2133 and Hidden Nuances

The Pentium G4520 works with:

- DDR4-2133 (officially).

- DDR3L-1600 (requires specific motherboards).

Recommendations:

- Capacity: 8-16 GB (2 DDR4 modules for dual-channel mode).

- Timings: CL15-CL16.

- Example: Kingston ValueRAM 8GB DDR4-2133 (~$25 per module).

Important: Motherboards for DDR3L are rarely found. It is better to use DDR4.

4. Power Supply: Power Calculation and Reliability

With a TDP of 51W, a system with the Pentium G4520 consumes around 100-150W (accounting for HDD, SSD, fans).

Recommendations:

- Without discrete graphics card: PSU 300-400W (for example, be quiet! System Power 10 400W, ~$45).

- With a graphics card (e.g., GTX 1650): 450-500W (Corsair CX450, ~$55).

Tip: Don’t skimp on the PSU. Cheap models (like Aerocool VX) might operate unstably under load.

5. Pros and Cons of Pentium G4520 in 2025

Pros:

- Price: New processors ~$50-60 (rarely available in retail, more often used for $20-30).

- Energy Efficiency: Ideal for compact builds.

- HD 530 Graphics: Can handle CS:GO at 720p (~40 FPS) or 4K video.

Cons:

- 2 Cores: Modern OS and applications require more threads.

- No PCIe 4.0/5.0 Support: Limits upgrades for storage.

- Outdated Platform: No compatibility with new motherboards.

6. Use Cases: Where G4520 Is Still Relevant

- Office PC: Document work, Zoom, browser.

- Home Theater: 4K HDR via Kodi or Plex.

- Light Gaming: Minecraft, Stardew Valley, emulators up to PS2.

- Entry-Level Server: NAS based on OpenMediaVault.

Real Example: A user built a media center with G4520 + 8 GB RAM + 256 GB SSD. 4K HDR playback via HDMI 2.0 without lag.

7. Comparison with Competitors: AMD and Modern Pentiums

- AMD Athlon 3000G (2020): 2 cores/4 threads, Vega 3 graphics. Better in multitasking but more expensive (~$70 new).

- Intel Celeron G6900 (2023): 2 cores/2 threads, but on 10 nm, Geekbench 6 ~1200/2400. Price ~$80.

- Used Core i5-6500: 4 cores/4 threads for $40-50. More powerful but without new warranty.

Conclusion: The G4520 is only a good choice for budgets under $50 and where multitasking is not a requirement.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboard: Look for H110/B150 with HDMI and M.2 (for NVMe).

2. Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient even for summer heat.

3. Storage: SSD is a must (Kingston A400 240GB, ~$25).

4. Case: Compact Mini-ITX (Fractal Design Core 500).

Example Build for $250:

- CPU: Pentium G4520 ($50)

- Motherboard: ASUS H110M-K ($60)

- RAM: 8GB DDR4 ($25)

- SSD: 240GB ($25)

- PSU: 400W ($45)

- Case: ~$45

9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Choose the Pentium G4520?

This processor is worth considering if:

- The budget is strictly limited ($200-300 for the entire build).

- You need a PC for basic tasks: Work, study, media.

- Energy efficiency is important: For instance, for a home server operating 24/7.

Why not choose it? If you plan to run modern games, video editing, or heavy IDEs — even a used Core i5 from the 8th generation would be better.

Conclusion

In 2025, the Intel Pentium G4520 is a niche product. It lags behind modern counterparts but remains a "workhorse" for those who prioritize minimal cost and reliability. Use it in projects where every $10 counts, but do not expect performance miracles.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

September 2015

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

G4520

Code Name

SkyLake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

3.60 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

L3 Cache

4 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCLGA1151

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

51 W

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

3.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

Up to 1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8+2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-1866/2133 | DDR3L-1333/1600 @ 1.35V

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

64 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

8 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

34.1 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

Yes

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

Intel® HD Graphics 530

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

1.05 GHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

64 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (VGA)

N/A

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

3 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Boot Guard

Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel InTru 3D Technology

Yes

Intel OS Guard

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.4

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

767

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1231

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

885

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1671

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2008

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

2707

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Core i5-5350U

888 +15.8%

Xeon E5-2650 v4

833 +8.6%

Pentium G4520

767

Xeon E5-1650 v2

708 -7.7%

Core i7-3960X

658 -14.2%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

PRO A10-8770

1540 +25.1%

PRO A10-8770E

1404 +14.1%

Pentium G4520

1231

A10-7800

1094 -11.1%

Pentium G4400TE

971 -21.1%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Core i3-8100B

920 +4%

Core i7-6770HQ

901 +1.8%

Pentium G4520

885

EPYC 7642

871 -1.6%

Core i3-4350

856 -3.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Core i7-2720QM

1945 +16.4%

Core i7-7600U

1821 +9%

Pentium G4520

1671

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

1568 -6.2%

Core i3-4150T

1479 -11.5%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Ryzen 3 PRO 2200G with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics

2058 +2.5%

EPYC 7262

2036 +1.4%

Pentium G4520

2008

Core i5-6440HQ

1981 -1.3%

Ryzen 3 3350U

1953 -2.7%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

A10-5800B

3034 +12.1%

PRO A10-8750B

2879 +6.4%

Pentium G4520

2707

Core i3-7102E

2521 -6.9%

Core i7-3517U

2320 -14.3%