
Celeron G4920 vs Core i5-3230M

Celeron G4920

Core i5-3230M
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G4920
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3230M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G4920 | Core i5-3230M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($115) | ✅ More affordable ($13) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G4920 | Core i5-3230M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+788%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($115) | ✅ More affordable ($13) |
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 G4920 and Core i5-3230M

Celeron G4920
The Celeron G4920 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 2,555 points. Launch price was $52.

Core i5-3230M
The Core i5-3230M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,565 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Celeron G4920 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-3230M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Celeron G4920 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-3230M — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Celeron G4920 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-3230M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G4920 scores 2,555 against the Core i5-3230M's 2,565 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-3230M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 672 vs 565, a 17.3% lead for the Celeron G4920 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,229 vs 1,128 (8.6% advantage for the Celeron G4920). L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Celeron G4920 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3230M.
| Feature | Celeron G4920 | Core i5-3230M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+23% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+100% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,555 | 2,565 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 672+19% | 565 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,229+9% | 1,128 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G4920 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-3230M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Celeron G4920 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i5-3230M — the Celeron G4920 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G4920 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H310,B360,B365,H370,Z370,Z390 (Celeron G4920) and HM76,HM77 (Core i5-3230M).
| Feature | Celeron G4920 | Core i5-3230M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G4920) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3230M). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 610 (Celeron G4920) and HD Graphics 4000 (Core i5-3230M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G4920 targets Budget, Core i5-3230M targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Celeron G4920 rivals Pentium G5420; Core i5-3230M rivals Ryzen 5 3500U.
| Feature | Celeron G4920 | Core i5-3230M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 610 | HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget | Gaming |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G4920 launched at $52 MSRP, while the Core i5-3230M debuted at $225. At current prices ($115 vs $13), the Core i5-3230M is $102 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G4920 delivers 22.2 pts/$ vs 197.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-3230M — making the Core i5-3230M the 159.5% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G4920 | Core i5-3230M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $52-77% | $225 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $115 | $13-89% |
| Performance per Dollar | 22.2 | 197.3+789% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2013 |
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