Intel Pentium G4560 2-core LGA1151

The Intel Pentium G4560 is a budget dual-core with Hyper-Threading that still works fine for basic computing and light gaming. It's dirt cheap on the used market, starting around USD 34, and includes integrated graphics so you don't need a GPU. But multi-thread performance is weak, and it struggles with video editing and modern games. Buy it only if you're locked into LGA 1151 or need the absolute cheapest functional CPU.

Let's talk numbers. The PassMark multi-thread score of 3518 puts this chip in the 31st percentile among all CPUs in our database. That's not great, but it's also not a surprise for a dual-core part from 2017. The single-thread score of 2071 lands at the 57th percentile, which is actually respectable. That single-core strength is why this chip felt snappy in everyday tasks back in the day, and it still holds up okay for basic desktop use.

In real-world terms, the G4560 handles web browsing, office apps, and media playback without breaking a sweat. The Hyper-Threading helps with multitasking, so having a dozen browser tabs open won't bring it to its knees. But push it into video editing or modern gaming and you'll feel the ceiling fast. The 54W TDP is modest, which means it runs cool and quiet, especially with the stock cooler. And the HD Graphics 610 iGPU can drive displays up to 4096 x 2304, so even a 4K monitor for desktop use is technically on the table, though don't expect to game at that resolution.

The G4560's main competition in the used market is interesting. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 absolutely demolishes it in multi-thread performance, with 6 cores and 12 threads, but it's also on a newer platform and costs more. If you're building a budget gaming rig today, the Ryzen 5 5500 is the obvious choice, no contest. The G4560 only makes sense if you're locked into LGA 1151 or your budget is extremely tight.

Then there's the Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2, which is a completely different beast. That's a server chip with higher core counts and ECC memory support, but it's also older, hotter, and requires a specific motherboard. For a home server or NAS build, the Xeon might actually be more interesting than the Pentium, assuming you can find a compatible board. The G4560's advantage is simplicity: it just works in any LGA 1151 board, sips power, and has integrated graphics. The Xeon needs a discrete GPU just to boot, which adds cost and complexity.

Here's where things get interesting. The G4560 is listed between USD 34 and USD 66 across four US listings, and that's a spread worth paying attention to. The cheapest option at USD 34 is a steal if you just need a functional CPU for a basic build. But at USD 66, you're getting into territory where you should seriously consider saving a bit more for something newer. The CAD market shows an even wider gap, from CAD 60 to CAD 136 across three listings, so Canadian buyers need to shop around carefully.

The value proposition really depends on what you already own. If you've got an LGA 1151 motherboard sitting around, this is a no-brainer upgrade for an old Celeron or a dead chip replacement. But if you're starting from scratch, the platform cost (motherboard, RAM, cooler if you get the tray version) starts to add up, and suddenly a used Ryzen 3 or even a newer budget chip makes more sense. The tray version is cheaper but comes without a heatsink or fan, so budget another USD 10-15 for a basic cooler unless you've got one lying around.

The Intel Pentium G4560 is one of those chips that became a legend in its own time. When it launched back in the Kaby Lake era, it was the budget king because it brought Hyper-Threading to the Pentium line for the first time. That meant 2 cores and 4 threads at 3.5GHz for pocket change, and budget builders everywhere rejoiced. It's a 14nm part with 3MB of L3 cache and a 54W TDP, sitting on the LGA 1151 socket. Nothing fancy, but it didn't need to be.

Who's this for in 2025? Honestly, it's for people resurrecting old office PCs, building a cheap home server, or putting together a basic machine for web browsing, email, and light productivity. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 610 means you don't even need a dedicated GPU to get a display output. And since it supports both DDR4 and DDR3L, you've got flexibility when scavenging parts from older systems.

What makes it interesting now is the used market. You can find these things for USD 34 to USD 66 depending on the vendor, and the tray version (no cooler) is even cheaper. That's a whole lot of functional computing for the price of a pizza. Just don't expect it to keep up with anything modern, because it won't. But for what it is, it's still a charming little workhorse.

Skip this chip if you're building a gaming PC for anything beyond esports titles or older games. The multi-thread performance is a genuine bottleneck, and modern titles will stutter or refuse to run well regardless of your GPU. You'd be much better off with a used Ryzen 5 5500 or even a Ryzen 3 3100, both of which offer dramatically better multi-core performance for not much more money.

Also skip it if you need Windows 11 support or plan to do any video editing, 3D rendering, or streaming. The G4560's 2 cores and 4 threads simply can't keep up with those workloads, and the lack of official Windows 11 support means you're on borrowed time with Windows 10. If you're building a NAS or home server, consider a used Xeon E5-2637 V2 instead, assuming you can find a compatible motherboard and don't mind the higher power draw.

If you're reviving an old LGA 1151 system or building a dirt-cheap office PC, the G4560 is still a solid pick. The Hyper-Threading keeps it responsive for everyday tasks, and the integrated graphics mean you don't need to hunt down a GPU. At USD 34, it's hard to argue with the value. Pair it with a cheap SSD and 8GB of RAM, and you've got a perfectly usable machine for browsing, email, and light productivity.

But if you're building a gaming PC or anything that involves video editing, look elsewhere. The G4560's multi-thread performance is a real limitation, and the user sentiment score of 65/100 reflects that frustration. Modern games and creative workloads want more cores, and this chip simply doesn't have them. Save up for a Ryzen 5 5500 or even a used Ryzen 3 3100 if you can stretch the budget. The G4560 was a legend in 2017, but time has moved on.