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Intel Pentium Gold G5400

Intel Pentium Gold G5400: Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

Overview of Capabilities, Compatibility, and Use Cases

Key Features: Coffee Lake in Miniature

The Intel Pentium Gold G5400 processor, released in 2018, remains relevant for budget builds due to its energy efficiency and affordable price (around $70 in 2025).

Architecture and Process Technology

- Codename: Coffee Lake (14 nm).

- Cores/Threads: 2 cores, 4 threads (Hyper-Threading).

- Cache: 4 MB L3.

- Base Frequency: 3.7 GHz (without Turbo Boost).

Despite the outdated 14nm process technology, the processor shows stable performance in office tasks and light applications. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 610 supports 4K video (via HDMI 1.4) and basic gaming.

Performance

- Geekbench 6: 730 (single-core), 1508 (multi-core).

- Practical Examples:

- Watching YouTube in 4K: CPU load – 20-30%.

- CS:GO on low settings: 40-50 FPS (720p).

- Working in Microsoft Office: instant responsiveness.

Key Features: Support for virtualization (VT-x), hardware data encryption (AES-NI), power consumption below 60W.

Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1151v2 Socket

Motherboards with chipsets H310, B360, H370, Z370, Z390 are suitable for the Pentium G5400.

Selection Recommendations

- Budget Option: ASUS Prime H310M-K (around $60). Supports DDR4-2666, HDMI, USB 3.1.

- For Upgrading: MSI B360M Pro-VDH ($80-90). Includes M.2 for NVMe SSD and four RAM slots.

Important:

- LGA 1151v2 is not compatible with 8th-generation processors on older boards (e.g., H110).

- BIOS updates may be required for Z370/Z390 chipsets.

Memory: DDR4-2400 and Dual Channel Mode

- Memory Type: DDR4-2133/2400 (official support).

- Maximum Capacity: 64 GB (practically up to 32 GB due to budget motherboard limitations).

- Recommendations:

- 2×8 GB DDR4-2400 (for example, Kingston ValueRAM – $35 for a set).

- Avoid high-frequency modules (above 2666 MHz) as the processor does not utilize them.

Tip: Activate dual channel mode for a 10-15% performance boost in gaming.

Power Supply: Minimum 300 W

With a TDP of 58W, the processor does not require a powerful PSU:

- Without discrete graphics card: 300 W (e.g., EVGA 400W – $40).

- With a GTX 1650-level graphics card: 450 W (Corsair CX450 – $60).

Selection Criteria:

- 80 Plus Bronze certification.

- 4-pin CPU connector (some cheap PSUs may not have it).

Pros and Cons of the Pentium G5400

Advantages:

- Price: One of the most affordable processors with Hyper-Threading.

- Energy Efficiency: Suitable for compact PCs and HTPCs.

- UHD 610 Graphics: Can handle Netflix in 4K and older games.

Disadvantages:

- 2 Cores: Multitasking is limited (e.g., streaming + gaming is not feasible).

- No Overclocking: Fixed frequency.

- Outdated Platform: No support for PCIe 4.0 and DDR5.

Use Cases

1. Office and Study

- Example: Working with documents, Zoom conferences, browser (10+ tabs).

- Recommendations: Add an SSD (e.g., Kingston A400 240 GB – $25).

2. Multimedia

- Example: Mini-ITX media center (4K playback via Plex).

- Recommendations: Use passive cooling (Noctua NH-L9i).

3. Light Gaming

- Example: Dota 2, Minecraft, Overwatch (on low settings).

- Tip: Add a GTX 1050 Ti-level graphics card (used – $80).

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Athlon 3000G (Price: ~$65)

- Pros: Vega 3 graphics are more powerful than UHD 610.

- Cons: No Hyper-Threading, lower IPC.

Intel Celeron G5905 (Price: ~$50)

- Pros: Cheaper.

- Cons: 2 cores/2 threads, weaker multitasking.

Conclusion: The Pentium G5400 outperforms the Celeron due to Hyper-Threading but falls short against the Athlon in graphics.

Practical Building Tips

1. SSD is Essential: HDD will bottleneck this CPU.

2. Cooler: The stock cooler is sufficient, but for quiet operation, consider the Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 ($20).

3. Motherboard: Choose models with HDMI 2.0 if you need 4K@60Hz.

4. Upgrade: Later, you can install a Core i3-9100 (4 cores/4 threads), but it's better to consider the LGA 1200 platform right away.

Conclusion: Who is the Pentium G5400 Suitable for in 2025?

This processor is a choice for:

- Budget office PCs.

- Home media centers.

- Students needing a computer for educational purposes.

Why this one? Low price, sufficient performance for basic tasks, and minimal power consumption. However, for gaming or professional tasks, it’s better to add $50-100 and opt for the Ryzen 3 5300G or Core i3-12100.

Final Verdict: The Pentium G5400 is a "workhorse" for those not ready to overpay for excess power.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

April 2018

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.

G5400

Code Name

Coffee Lake

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

3.70 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.

Yes

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

58 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

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.

DDR4-2400

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).

37.5 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® UHD Graphics 610

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

Number of Displays Supported

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.

4 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

Yes

OpenGL Support

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

4.5

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

730

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

1508

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

876

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

1927

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2208

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

3725

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Xeon Silver 4210R

859 +17.7%

Xeon E5-2630L

798 +9.3%

Pentium Gold G5400

730

Celeron G4920

672 -7.9%

Core i7-2600

638 -12.6%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Core i5-3450

1814 +20.3%

Core i5-8210Y

1646 +9.2%

Pentium Gold G5400

1508

Core i3-5020U

1340 -11.1%

Celeron G5925

1180 -21.8%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Xeon Gold 6426Y

910 +3.9%

Ryzen 7 PRO 1700

892 +1.8%

Pentium Gold G5400

876

Xeon E5-1620 v3

861 -1.7%

Ryzen 3 2200GE

847 -3.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

EPYC Embedded 3351

2205 +14.4%

Core i7-7567U

2054 +6.6%

Pentium Gold G5400

1927

Xeon E5-2430L

1769 -8.2%

Xeon Gold 5118

1647 -14.5%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon Gold 6208U

2265 +2.6%

Xeon Gold 6128

2238 +1.4%

Pentium Gold G5400

2208

Core i5-10210U

2180 -1.3%

Ryzen 5 PRO 1500

2152 -2.5%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Ryzen Embedded R1606G

4144 +11.2%

Core i7-2675QM

3919 +5.2%

Pentium Gold G5400

3725

Core i3-4340

3545 -4.8%

Core i5-2500S

3383 -9.2%