CPU
GPU
Celeron G1820
Core i3-3120M
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 G1820 is positioned at rank 895 and the Core i3-3120M is on rank 460, so the Core i3-3120M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1820
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3120M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G1820 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G1820 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Celeron G1820 and Core i3-3120M
Celeron G1820
The Celeron G1820 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,696 points. Launch price was $110.
Core i3-3120M
The Core i3-3120M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,709 points. Launch price was $160.
Processing Power
The Celeron G1820 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3120M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Celeron G1820 versus 2.5 GHz on the Core i3-3120M — a 7.7% clock advantage for the Celeron G1820 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Celeron G1820 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-3120M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G1820 scores 1,696 against the Core i3-3120M's 1,709 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-3120M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 496 vs 440, a 12% lead for the Celeron G1820 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 910 vs 930 (2.2% advantage for the Core i3-3120M). L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron G1820 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3120M.
| Feature | Celeron G1820 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+8% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+8% | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,696 | 1,709 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 496+13% | 440 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 910 | 930+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G1820 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-3120M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1820) and HM76,HM77 (Core i3-3120M).
| Feature | Celeron G1820 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G1820) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-3120M). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron G1820) and Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3120M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1820 targets Budget, Core i3-3120M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Celeron G1820 rivals Pentium G3220; Core i3-3120M rivals AMD A8-4500M.
| Feature | Celeron G1820 | Core i3-3120M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget Laptop |
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