Celeron 1017U
VS
Core i7-640LM

Celeron 1017U vs Core i7-640LM

Intel

Celeron 1017U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2013
VS
Intel

Core i7-640LM

2 Cores4 Thrd25 WWMax: 2.93 GHz2010

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Celeron 1017U is positioned at rank 975 and the Core i7-640LM is on rank 333, so the Core i7-640LM offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Celeron 1017U

#963
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
1946%
#964
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
1917%
#965
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
1760%
#966
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
1752%
#967
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
1736%
#969
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
1676%
#970
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
1607%
#971
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
1605%
#972
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
1562%
#975
Celeron 1017U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#977
Phenom II X2 N640
MSRP: $100|Avg: $55
100%
#978
A10-8700P
MSRP: $150|Avg: $40
100%
#982
Athlon II Neo K125
MSRP: $100|Avg: $100
99%
#986
Pro A8-8600B
MSRP: $150|Avg: $25
97%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-640LM

#321
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
480%
#322
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
473%
#323
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
434%
#324
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
432%
#325
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
428%
#327
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
413%
#328
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
396%
#329
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
396%
#330
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
385%
#333
Core i7-640LM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#336
Xeon E3-1505M v5
MSRP: $115|Avg: $115
99%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i7-640LM delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Celeron 1017U in both compute-intensive tasks (1.4% faster) and gaming workloads.
InsightCeleron 1017UCore i7-640LM
Gaming
Lower gaming performance
Superior gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightCeleron 1017UCore i7-640LM
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Celeron 1017U and Core i7-640LM

Intel

Celeron 1017U

The Celeron 1017U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,508 points. Launch price was $69.

Intel

Core i7-640LM

The Core i7-640LM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,529 points. Launch price was $332.

Processing Power

The Celeron 1017U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-640LM's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 1017U versus 2.93 GHz on the Core i7-640LM — a 58.7% clock advantage for the Core i7-640LM (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The Celeron 1017U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-640LM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 1017U scores 1,508 against the Core i7-640LM's 1,529 — a 1.4% lead for the Core i7-640LM. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 1017U vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-640LM.

FeatureCeleron 1017UCore i7-640LM
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
1.6 GHz
2.93 GHz+83%
Base Clock
1.6 GHz
2.13 GHz+33%
L3 Cache
2 MB
4 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache
512 kB+100%
256 kB (per core)
Process
22 nm-31%
32 nm
Architecture
Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark
1,508
1,529+1%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Celeron 1017U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-640LM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Celeron 1017U versus 1066 on the Core i7-640LM — the Core i7-640LM supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 1017U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel FCBGA1023 (Celeron 1017U) and HM55,HM57,QM57,QS57 (Core i7-640LM).

FeatureCeleron 1017UCore i7-640LM
Socket
BGA1023
BGA1288
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1600
1066+35433%
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB+419430300%
8
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Celeron 1017U) / true (Core i7-640LM). Both include integrated graphics Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) (Celeron 1017U) and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i7-640LM) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-640LM rivals Core 2 Duo SL9400.

FeatureCeleron 1017UCore i7-640LM
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)
Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
true