CPU
GPU
Celeron G1840
Core i5-540M
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 G1840 is positioned at rank 420 and the Core i5-540M is on rank 432, so the Celeron G1840 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1840
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-540M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G1840 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G1840 | Core i5-540M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Celeron G1840 and Core i5-540M
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.
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 |
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. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Celeron G1840 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% 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 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+300% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
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 |
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