Intel Pentium Gold 5405U vs Intel Pentium Silver N5000

Intel Pentium Gold 5405U

The Intel Pentium 5405U is an ULV (ultra low voltage) dual-core SoC based on the Whiskey-Lake architecture and has been launched in 2019. The CPU can be found in ultrabooks as well as normal notebooks. In addition to two CPU cores with Hyper-Threading clocked at 2.3 GHz (no Turbo Boost), the chip also integrates an HD Graphics 610 GPU and a dual-channel DDR4-2133/DDR3L-1600 memory controller. The SoC is manufactured using a 14 nm process with FinFET transistors (14nm++).

Architecture

Intel basically uses the same micro architecture compared to Skylake, so the per-MHz performance does not differ. The manufacturer only reworked the Speed Shift technology for faster dynamic adjustments of voltages and clocks, and the improved 14nm process allows much higher frequencies combined with better efficiency than before. Compared to Kaby-Lake Refresh, Whiskey Lake only features a slightly improved process from 14nm+ to 14nm++.

Performance

The average 5405U in our database is in the same league as the Pentium N5000, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. Performance of this kind is only sufficient for basic day-to-day tasks such as checking one's inbox, as of early 2023.

Graphics

The integrated graphics unit called UHD Graphics 610 (similar to the HD Graphics 510) represents the "GT1" version of the Whiskey Lake GPU (Intel Gen. 9). Its 12 Execution Units, also called EUs, run at 300 - 950 MHz and offer a performance somewhat below the older HD Graphics 4400. Only a few games of 2018 can be played smoothly in lowest settings.

Power consumption

This Pentium has a default TDP of 15 W (also known as the long-term power limit) which is a little too high to be appropriate for a passively cooled laptop, tablet or mini-PC. OEMs are free to reduce that value somewhat, 12.5 W being the lower limit, with clock speeds and performance taking a hit as a result.

Intel Pentium 5405U is built with a fairly old, as of early 2023, 14 nm process making for subpar energy efficiency.

Intel Pentium Silver N5000

The Intel Pentium Silver N5000 is a quad-core SoC primarily for inexpensive notebooks and was announced late 2017. It runs at 1.1-2.7 GHz (Single Core Burst, Multi Core Burst max. 2.6 GHz) and is based on the Gemini Lake platform. Similar to the Apollo Lake predecessor, the chip is manufactured in a 14 nm process with FinFETs but offers slightly improved processor cores, double the amount of L2 cache, a smaller package, a new generation of monitor outputs (Gen 10) and a partly integrated WiFi chip. Besides four CPU cores, the chip also includes a DirectX 12 capable GPU as well as a DDR4/LPDDR4 memory controller (dual-channel, up to 2400 MHz). The SoC is not replaceable as it is directly soldered to the mainboard.

Architecture

The processor architecture was slightly reworked and is now called Goldmont Plus. It features an increased level 2 cache (to 4 MB). That means the per-clock-performance should be a bit better, but not near the Core CPUs like Kaby Lake Y.

Performance

The average N5000 in our database is in the same league as the AMD 3050e and the Pentium 4415U, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This is a really poor result, as of Q3 2023.

The Yoga 330-11IGM is among the fastest laptops featuring the N5000 that we know of. It can be more than 30% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system built around the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

GPU Performance

The UHD Graphics 605 (Gemini Lake) is based on Intel's Gen9 architecture, which supports DirectX 12 and is also used for the Kaby Lake / Skylake / Apollo Lake graphics adapters (like HD Graphics 520). Equipped with 18 EUs and a clock of up to 750 MHz, the performance should be roughly on par with the older HD Graphics 5300 and HD Graphics 505 (Apollo Lake).

The chip also includes an advanced video engine with hardware support for the playback of VP9 and H.265 material (8-bit color-depth).

Power Consumption

Similar to the predecessor, Intel specifies the TDP with 6 Watts (SDP 4.8 Watts – Scenario Design Power). The chip can therefore be cooled passively in theory, but SKUs with fans are possible as well.