Celeron G3950 vs Core i3-3240
Celeron G3950
Core i3-3240
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 G3950 is positioned at rank 457 and the Core i3-3240 is on rank 847, so the Celeron G3950 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3950
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3240
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G3950 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G3950 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+101%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 G3950 and Core i3-3240
Celeron G3950
The Celeron G3950 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 2133, DDR3L 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,336 points. Launch price was $52.
Core i3-3240
The Core i3-3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,352 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Celeron G3950 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3240's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Celeron G3950 versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-3240 — a 12.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-3240 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Celeron G3950 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-3240 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3950 scores 2,336 against the Core i3-3240's 2,352 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-3240. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3950 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3240.
| Feature | Celeron G3950 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+13% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+13% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,336 | 2,352 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 750 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,100 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G3950 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-3240 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Celeron G3950 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron G3950) / not specified (Core i3-3240). The Celeron G3950 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 610), while the Core i3-3240 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3950 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3950 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | Celeron G3950 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 610 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G3950 launched at $52 MSRP, while the Core i3-3240 debuted at $132. At current prices ($30 vs $15), the Core i3-3240 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G3950 delivers 77.9 pts/$ vs 156.8 pts/$ for the Core i3-3240 — making the Core i3-3240 the 67.3% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G3950 | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $52-61% | $132 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | $15-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 77.9 | 156.8+101% |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2012 |
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