Intel Pentium Gold G5420T socket: LGA 1151
The Intel Pentium Gold G5420T uses the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards. It is a locked 35 W dual-core chip with Hyper-Threading for quiet office PCs on 300 series boards.
- Socket
- LGA 1151 (revision 2)
- Launched
- April 2019
- Cores and threads
- 2 and 4
- Base power
- 35 W
- Codename
- Coffee Lake
- Segment
- Desktop
- Family
- Intel Pentium Gold
- Clocks
- 3.2 / 3.2 GHz
Intel Pentium Gold G5420T specifications
| Cores | 2 |
|---|---|
| Threads | 4 (with Hyper-Threading) |
| Core architecture | Skylake based cores on 14 nm |
| Clocks | 3.2 GHz (no Turbo Boost) |
| Cache | 4 MB Intel Smart Cache (L3) |
| Processor base power (TDP) | 35 W (25 W cTDP down at 2.1 GHz) |
| 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 G5420T 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 GT 1030, Radeon RX 550 |
| Target resolution | 1080p basic settings |
Two cores with four threads, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes and DDR4-2400 line up with entry 1080p cards from 2019, while the integrated graphics cover office screens on their own. 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 G5420T is
The Pentium Gold G5420T is a low power dual-core processor that Intel released in April 2019 for small office systems. Its two cores run at a fixed 3.2 GHz with no Turbo Boost, and Hyper-Threading lifts the thread count to four. That extra threading keeps background updates and antivirus scans from freezing the foreground application.
Cache is 4 MB of shared L3, double the Celeron amount, which helps when several office programs stay open at once. The 35 W rating suits slim cases, and a configurable TDP down to 25 W at 2.1 GHz serves fanless terminals. The multiplier is locked and the chip is built on the 14 nm process.
Intel UHD Graphics 610 runs from 350 MHz to 1.05 GHz and drives three displays for multidisplay office desks. ECC memory is supported to 64 GB, so the chip can sit in a small business server as well as under a desk. Error correction needs board wiring that allows it.
Socket and motherboard compatibility
The G5420T fits the LGA 1151 socket on revision 2 boards only. H310, B360, H370, Q370 and Z370 boards accept it, while B365 and Z390 boards take it with the shipping BIOS. Revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets never support it.
H310 mini boards pair well with the 35 W rating for compact office boxes with digital display outputs. B360 adds ports and storage flexibility for desks that dock several peripherals. Q370 brings management features for fleets that an IT department maintains centrally.
Z series boards add little because the multiplier is locked and memory stays at DDR4-2400 on this chip. On early Z370 stock, check the maker CPU support list for the minimum BIOS. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide explains 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 modules open dual-channel mode, which lifts both application loading and integrated graphics output. ECC modules are supported where the board allows it.
Sixteen PCIe 3.0 lanes feed one discrete card at full width, which is where an entry 1080p card fits for light games after hours. Most office builds skip the card entirely and run from UHD 610. Cooling follows the 75 mm LGA 1151 pattern from the CPU cooler compatibility by socket guide, and a low profile cooler copes easily with 35 W.
The 25 W cTDP down mode helps sealed enclosures and kiosk cabinets that cannot move much air. Administrators set the lower limit in firmware and accept 2.1 GHz operation in exchange for lower heat. Chipset lanes carry SSDs and extra USB ports beside the processor lanes.
Upgrade paths
Staying in socket, the Pentium Gold G5420 raises the fixed clock to 3.8 GHz at 54 W for standard towers. The Core i3-9100 moves to four physical cores for users who keep dozens of browser tabs open. Both reuse the same board, memory and cooler.
Further up, the Intel Core i5-9400 brings six cores for desks that edit documents with large images, and the Intel Core i9-9900K is the ceiling of revision 2. Each step up wants a BIOS check and a look at cooler capacity.
Past LGA 1151 a new board is required since LGA 1200 processors do not fit. The G5420T suits quiet rooms where four threads are enough, and a platform change only pays off when the workload clearly outgrows two cores.
Frequently asked questions
What socket does the Intel Pentium Gold G5420T use?
It uses LGA 1151 on revision 2 boards with 300 series chipsets, written FCLGA1151 in Intel documents.
What does Hyper-Threading add on the G5420T?
Hyper-Threading lets each of the two cores handle two threads, giving four threads in total. That smooths multitasking compared with a Celeron of the same clock.
Which graphics card pairs with the G5420T?
Entry 1080p cards such as the GeForce GT 1030 and Radeon RX 550 suit light games, while office work runs fine on integrated graphics alone.
What memory does the G5420T support?
Officially up to DDR4-2400 over two channels, with a 64 GB ceiling and ECC support where the board allows it.
Does the G5420T work on an H270 motherboard?
No. Revision 1 boards with 100 or 200 series chipsets never support Coffee Lake Pentium processors.
Sources and verification
- Intel Pentium Gold G5420T Processor specifications (Intel)
- Intel Pentium Gold G5420T specs (TechPowerUp)
Facts last checked against these sources on . Page last edited on .