Raspberry Pi 5 B (Broadcom BCM2712) vs Intel Core i7-920

The Intel Core i7-920 (codename Bloomfield), introduced in 2008, was a high-end desktop processor.

The Raspberry Pi 5 B with Broadcom BCM2712 (codename Cortex-A76), released in 2023, is a powerful single-board computer. The Intel Core i7-920 is manufactured using a 45 nm process, features 4 cores and 8 threads, 1 MB L2 and 8 MB L3 cache, and 26 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Broadcom BCM2712 uses a 16 nm process with 4 Cortex-A76 cores, 2 MB L2 and 2 MB L3 cache, 17 GB/s memory bandwidth, and PCIe 2.0.

The single-core performance of the Broadcom BCM2712 is significantly higher than that of the Intel Core i7-920. For multi-core performance, both processors show comparable performance. The Intel Core i7-920 requires a dedicated graphics card and is suitable for older games. The Raspberry Pi 5 B integrates the Broadcom VideoCore VII GPU for light gaming and emulation, but not for demanding 3D titles.

The Intel Core i7-920 is a desktop processor with high TDP and power consumption. The Broadcom BCM2712 of the Raspberry Pi 5 B is very energy-efficient with significantly lower TDP. The Intel Core i7-920 is an outdated used product without a relevant price-performance evaluation. The Raspberry Pi 5 B is a current product with a low new price and excellent price-performance ratio.

The Intel Core i7-920 was an important desktop CPU of its time. The Raspberry Pi 5 B, as a modern SBC, offers high computing power per watt. For new, energy-efficient projects, the Raspberry Pi 5 B is the clear recommendation. The Intel Core i7-920 is, at best, still useful for older desktop software on existing hardware.