Intel Pentium Gold G5420 socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Pentium Gold G5420 uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards. It is a locked 54 W dual-core chip with Hyper-Threading for mainstream budget desktops on 300 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1151 (revision 2)
- Launched
- April 2019
- Cores and threads
- 2 and 4
- Base power
- 54 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Pentium Gold
- Clocks
- 3.8 / 3.8 GHz
Intel Pentium Gold G5420 specifications
| Cores | 2 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 4 (with Hyper-Threading) |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.8 GHz (no Turbo Boost) |
| Cache | 4 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 54 W |
| Manufacturing process | 14 nm |
| Memory support | DDR4 up to 2400 MT/s, two channels, up to 64 GB |
| PCI Express | 16 lanes from the CPU, PCIe 3.0 |
| Integrated graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 610 (350 MHz to 1.05 GHz) |
| Multiplier | Locked |
| ECC memory | Supported |
| Package | FCLGA1151 |
Motherboard and chipset compatibility
Intel Pentium Gold G5420 needs a motherboard with a LGA 1151 socket. The table shows which chipset series accept it.
| Series | Chipsets | Support |
|---|---|---|
| 300 series: B365 and Z390 | Z390, B365 | Works out of the box |
| 300 series: H310, B360, H370, Q370, Z370 | Z370, H370, B360, H310, Q370 | Works out of the box |
| 200 series | Z270, H270, B250, Q270, Q250 | Not supported |
| 100 series | Z170, H170, B150, H110, Q170, Q150 | Not supported |
Board makers publish a CPU support list for every model. Check it for your exact board before buying. Chipset details for LGA 1151.
Recommended GPU pairing
| Recommended tier | Entry 1080p |
|---|---|
| Example GPUs | GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, Radeon RX 560 |
| Target resolution | 1080p basic settings |
Two cores with four threads at 3.8 GHz, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4-2400 match entry 1080p cards from the 2019 era for light gaming. A faster card still works and the balance shifts with game, settings and resolution.
This is a rough match for a new build at the stated resolution, not a limit. A faster card still works and helps at higher resolutions or in games that load the GPU more than the CPU. A slower card is fine for lighter games and office use. The exact balance shifts with the game, the settings and the resolution, so no percentage is given.
LGA 1151 at a glance
| Type | LGA, 1,151 contacts |
|---|---|
| Package size | 37.5 × 37.5 mm |
| Introduced | August 2015 |
| Memory | DDR4 on most boards (some early boards use DDR3L). DDR4 only on the second revision |
| Cooler mounting holes | 75 × 75 mm |
What the Pentium Gold G5420 is
The Pentium Gold G5420 is the mainstream desktop Pentium that Intel released in April 2019 for budget towers. Its two cores run at a fixed 3.8 GHz with no Turbo Boost, and Hyper-Threading raises the thread count to four. The high fixed clock keeps everyday tasks feeling responsive even though only two physical cores do the work.
Cache is 4 MB of shared L3, which helps when a browser, a document and a media player stay open together. The 54 W rating matches the stock Intel cooler and ordinary tower airflow. Built on the 14 nm process with a locked multiplier, the chip has no overclocking headroom.
Intel UHD Graphics 610 runs from 350 MHz to 1.05 GHz and drives three displays for office desks and home setups. ECC memory is supported to 64 GB, so the G5420 can anchor a small home server as well as a desk PC. Whether correction activates depends on the board design.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The G5420 fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards only. H310, B360, H370, Q370 and Z370 boards accept it, and B365 plus Z390 boards take it with the shipping BIOS. Boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets are revision 1 and never support it.
B360 is the sweet spot for this chip, adding USB ports, extra memory slots on many models and storage options over entry H310 boards. H310 still works for the cheapest builds with one graphics output and one M.2 slot. Both run the locked chip at full speed.
Early Z370 boards may need a BIOS update with 2019 processor support before the first boot. Check the maker CPU support list for the minimum version, and read the Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide for the reasoning behind the revision split.
Memory, PCIe and cooling
The memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2400 MT/s over two channels with a 64 GB ceiling. Two matched 8 GB modules give a balanced 16 GB setup that covers office work and light photo editing. ECC modules are supported where the board allows it.
Sixteen PCIe 3.0 lanes feed a single discrete card at full width, which is where an entry 1080p card fits for popular online games at modest settings. The integrated graphics handle everything else, including 4K video playback. Cooling follows the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide.
At 54 W the boxed cooler is adequate with a clear front intake and one exhaust fan. A tower cooler only reduces noise rather than unlocking speed, since the clock is fixed. Keep cables tied away from the intake so cool air reaches the cooler directly.
Upgrade paths
On the same socket, the Pentium Gold G5620 lifts the fixed clock to 4.0 GHz with stronger UHD 630 graphics at the same 54 W. The Core i3-9100 steps to four physical cores for users who outgrow two cores. Both drop into the same board after a BIOS check.
Higher up, the Intel Core i5-9400 brings six cores for gaming with a mid-range card, and the Intel Core i9-9900K is the ceiling of revision 2. Used prices decide the jump, since the board and memory carry over.
A move beyond LGA 1151 needs a new board because LGA 1200 processors do not fit. The G5420 covers browsing, office work and light games for years, so most owners upgrade in socket once and only change platform when the board itself retires.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Pentium Gold G5420 use?
It uses LGA 1151 on revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets, written FCLGA1151 in Intel documents.
What is the difference between the G5420 and the G5420T?
The G5420 is the 54 W desktop version at 3.8 GHz, while the G5420T is the 35 W low power version at 3.2 GHz. Both share 4 MB of cache and UHD 610 graphics.
Which graphics card pairs with the G5420?
Entry 1080p cards such as the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and Radeon RX 560 suit light gaming at modest settings, while office work needs no card at all.
What memory does the G5420 support?
Officially up to DDR4-2400 over two channels, with a 64 GB ceiling and ECC support where the board allows it.
Does the G5420 work on a Z170 motherboard?
No. Revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets never support Coffee Lake Pentium processors.
Sources and verification
- Intel Pentium Gold G5420 Processor specifications (Intel)
- Intel Pentium Gold G5420 specs (TechPowerUp)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .