CPU
GPU
Celeron 2957U
Core i7-640M
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 2957U is positioned at rank 53 and the Core i7-640M is on rank 107, so the Celeron 2957U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2957U
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-640M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2957U | Core i7-640M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2957U | Core i7-640M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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 2957U and Core i7-640M
Celeron 2957U
The Celeron 2957U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,077 points. Launch price was $107.
Core i7-640M
The Core i7-640M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.46 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,092 points. Launch price was $346.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2957U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-640M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2957U versus 3.46 GHz on the Core i7-640M — a 84.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-640M (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Celeron 2957U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-640M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2957U scores 2,077 against the Core i7-640M's 2,092 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i7-640M. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2957U vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-640M.
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core i7-640M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 3.46 GHz+147% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.8 GHz+100% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 4 MB (total)+100% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,077 | 2,092 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 284 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2957U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-640M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2957U versus 1066 on the Core i7-640M — the Core i7-640M supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 2957U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 10 (Celeron 2957U) vs 16 (Core i7-640M) — the Core i7-640M offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2957U) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i7-640M).
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core i7-640M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | 1066+35433% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+209715100% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | 16+60% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 2957U) vs true (Core i7-640M). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2957U) and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i7-640M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2957U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2957U rivals Pentium 2117U; Core i7-640M rivals Core 2 Duo T9600.
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core i7-640M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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