Celeron G1840 vs Core i5-540M

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.

Celeron G1840 vs Core i5-540M FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Celeron G1840 vs Core i5-540M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Celeron G1840

2014

Why buy it

✅+62.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $35 MSRP, while Core i5-540M mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌42.9% higher power demand at 50W vs 35W.

Core i5-540M

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 50W, a 15W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (300 vs 488).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (700 vs 832).

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G1840 better than Core i5-540M?

Yes. Celeron G1840 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 18.9% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Celeron G1840 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G1840 is the stronger fit. You are getting 18.9% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Celeron G1840 is the better buy right now. Celeron G1840 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $35 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (51.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron G1840 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron G1840 vs Core i5-540M Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Celeron G1840

The Celeron G1840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). 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: 1,784 points. Launch price was $53.

Core i5-540M

The Core i5-540M 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 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.07 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 1,796 points. Launch price was $257.

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Processing Power

The Celeron G1840 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-540M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Celeron G1840 versus 3.07 GHz on the Core i5-540M — a 9.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-540M (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.53 GHz). The Celeron G1840 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-540M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G1840 scores 1,784 against the Core i5-540M's 1,796 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-540M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 488 vs 300, a 47.7% lead for the Celeron G1840 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 832 vs 700 (17.2% advantage for the Celeron G1840). Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Celeron G1840	Core i5-540M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz	3.07 GHz+10%
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+11%	2.53 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256 kB (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm-31%	32 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,784	1,796
Geekbench 6 Single	488+63%	300
Geekbench 6 Multi	832+19%	700

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Memory & Platform

The Celeron G1840 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-540M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Celeron G1840 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i5-540M — the Celeron G1840 supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G1840 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1840) and HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57,PM55 (Core i5-540M).

Feature	Celeron G1840	Core i5-540M
Socket	LGA1150	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+25%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+300%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G1840) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-540M). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron G1840) and Intel HD Graphics (Core i5-540M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1840 targets Budget, Core i5-540M targets Mainstream Laptop. Direct competitor: Celeron G1840 rivals Pentium G3240; Core i5-540M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660.

Feature	Celeron G1840	Core i5-540M
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	HD Graphics (Haswell)	Intel HD Graphics
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Budget	Mainstream Laptop