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Intel Pentium Gold G5600

Intel Pentium Gold G5600: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

Updated: April 2025

Key Specifications: Miniature Coffee Lake

The Intel Pentium Gold G5600 processor, released in 2018, remains a popular choice for budget builds thanks to its balance of price and functionality.

Architecture and Process Technology

- Codename: Coffee Lake (14 nm).

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

- Frequency: Base – 3.9 GHz, no turbo boost.

- Cache: L3 – 4 MB.

- Integrated Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 (base frequency – 350 MHz, max – 1.1 GHz).

Despite the outdated 14-nm process technology (as 7-nm and 5-nm chips dominate in 2025), the processor remains relevant for less demanding tasks. Hyper-Threading allows for more efficient workload distribution, particularly when using office applications and web browsers.

Performance

- Single-threaded: High for its class (similar to the Core i3-8100).

- Multi-threaded: Limited by two cores. Cinebench R23 test: ~2200 points (for comparison, Ryzen 3 3200G – ~3700).

- Graphics: UHD 630 handles 4K video (H.265/VP9) and light gaming (CS:GO – 40-50 FPS on low settings, Minecraft – 60 FPS).

Key Features:

- Supports DDR4-2400.

- Intel Quick Sync Video technology (video encoding acceleration).

- Energy efficiency (TDP 54 W).

Compatible Motherboards: A Cautious Choice

The Pentium G5600 uses the LGA 1151 (v2) socket, but not all motherboards with this socket are compatible.

Chipsets

- H310/B360/H370: Budget options (starting at $50). Suitable for basic builds (no overclocking).

- Z370/Z390: For enthusiasts, but excessive for Pentium (prices starting from $120).

Example Boards for 2025:

- ASUS Prime H310M-K R2.0 ($55): Minimal ports but stable operation.

- Gigabyte B360M DS3H ($70): 4 DDR4 slots, M.2 for NVMe.

Important: 200-series chipset boards (e.g., H270) do not support Coffee Lake!

Supported Memory: DDR4 and Dual-Channel Mode

- Type: Only DDR4 (up to 2400 MHz).

- Maximum Capacity: 64 GB (dependent on motherboard).

- Recommendations:

- 8 GB (2x4 GB) for office and internet use.

- 16 GB (2x8 GB) for multimedia (e.g., 1080p editing in Shotcut).

Tip: Use dual-channel mode to boost UHD 630 graphics performance by 15-20%.

Power Supply: Minimizing Costs

With a TDP of 54 W, the Pentium G5600 does not require a powerful PSU:

- Without a discrete graphics card: 300-350 W (e.g., be quiet! System Power 10 350W – $45).

- With a GTX 1650 level graphics card: 450 W (EVGA 450 BR – $55).

Calculation for a Build with GTX 1650:

- Processor: 54 W.

- Graphics Card: 75 W.

- Others: 50 W.

Total: ~180 W. A 400 W power supply will suffice.

Pros and Cons: Who is Pentium Gold Relevant For?

Advantages:

- Price: $80-100 (new, April 2025).

- Energy Efficiency: Ideal for compact PCs.

- UHD 630 Graphics: Better than AMD Athlon 3000G (Vega 3).

Disadvantages:

- 2 Cores: Multitasking is limited (streaming + gaming = lags).

- No PCIe 4.0/5.0: Max SSD speed – 3.5 GB/s (PCIe 3.0 x4).

- Outdated Platform: No upgrade path to newer processors (last option – Core i9-9900K).

Use Scenarios: Where is Its Power Sufficient?

1. Office and Study:

- Working with documents, Zoom, and 20+ browser tabs (with 16 GB RAM).

2. Multimedia:

- Watching 4K on YouTube, video editing in 1080p (with 16 GB RAM and SSD).

3. Gaming:

- Indie projects (Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley), emulators (PS2/GameCube).

- With a discrete graphics card (GTX 1650): GTA V – 60 FPS (1080p, medium settings).

Real User Experience:

A Reddit user built a PC with G5600 + GTX 1650 for their child: “Fortnite runs at 60 FPS in 1080p – it works, but in multiplayer scenes, it sometimes drops to 40 FPS.”

Comparison with Competitors: What to Choose in 2025?

1. AMD Athlon 3000G ($60):

- Pros: Unlocked multiplier, supports DDR4-2666.

- Cons: Vega 3 weaker than UHD 630.

2. Intel Celeron G5905 ($50):

- Pros: Cheaper.

- Cons: 2 cores/2 threads, UHD 610.

3. Used Core i5-7400 ($40-50):

- Pros: 4 cores.

- Cons: No support for DDR4-2400, old platform.

Conclusion: The Pentium G5600 outperforms new AMD budget options in graphics but falls short in multi-threading.

Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboard: Choose B360/H310 with M.2 for a fast SSD (e.g., Kingston A2000 500 GB – $45).

2. Cooling: The stock cooler is sufficient (temperature under load – up to 65°C).

3. Upgrade: The best option for this platform is the Core i5-9400 (6 cores, $120 used).

4. Case: Mini-ITX (e.g., Cooler Master Elite 110 – $60) for HTPCs.

Example Build for $300:

- Processor: G5600 ($90).

- Motherboard: ASUS H310M-K ($55).

- Memory: 8 GB DDR4-2400 ($30).

- SSD: 256 GB NVMe ($35).

- PSU: 400 W ($45).

- Case: $45.

Final Conclusion: Who is the Pentium Gold G5600 Suitable For?

This processor is a good choice if:

- Budget is limited ($300-400 for the entire PC).

- A PC for office, study, or media center is needed.

- Use of an entry-level discrete graphics card is planned.

Why not AMD? In 2025, even budget Ryzen (e.g., Ryzen 3 5300G) starts at $130, but their performance is 2-3 times higher. However, if the goal is maximum savings, the G5600 remains a valid option.

Conclusion: An outdated yet still viable processor for non-demanding users.

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.

G5600

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

3.90 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

54 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

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 630

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.

1.10 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

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

2255

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

4124

Compared to Other CPU

Passmark CPU Single Core

EPYC 9354

2310 +2.4%

Xeon Gold 5218T

2282 +1.2%

Pentium Gold G5600

2255

Core i5-10310U

2225 -1.3%

Xeon E5-1660 v4

2202 -2.4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Core i7-2860QM

4558 +10.5%

Core i7-2820QM

4382 +6.3%

Pentium Gold G5600

4124

Pentium Gold G6400E

3908 -5.2%

Xeon L5638

3707 -10.1%