Celeron J3160 vs Core i3-2330M
Celeron J3160
Core i3-2330M
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 J3160 is positioned at rank 485 and the Core i3-2330M is on rank 679, so the Celeron J3160 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron J3160
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2330M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron J3160 | Core i3-2330M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Airmont (2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron J3160 | Core i3-2330M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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.
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Celeron J3160 and Core i3-2330M
Celeron J3160
The Celeron J3160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Airmont (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,250 points. Launch price was $107.
Core i3-2330M
The Core i3-2330M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 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: 1,248 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Celeron J3160 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-2330M offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron J3160 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.24 GHz on the Celeron J3160 versus 2.2 GHz on the Core i3-2330M — a 1.8% clock advantage for the Celeron J3160 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Celeron J3160 uses the Airmont (2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-2330M uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron J3160 scores 1,250 against the Core i3-2330M's 1,248 — a 0.2% lead for the Celeron J3160. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron J3160 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2330M.
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Core i3-2330M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.24 GHz+2% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.2 GHz+38% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Airmont (2016) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,250 | 1,248 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 650 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron J3160 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-2330M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron J3160 versus 1333 on the Core i3-2330M — the Core i3-2330M supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-2330M supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Celeron J3160) vs 16 (Core i3-2330M) — the Core i3-2330M offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3160) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i3-2330M).
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Core i3-2330M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+52428700% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron J3160) vs true (Core i3-2330M). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 400 (Celeron J3160) and Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i3-2330M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3160 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron J3160 rivals Pentium J3710; Core i3-2330M rivals AMD A6-3400M.
| Feature | Celeron J3160 | Core i3-2330M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 400 | Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Low Power | — |
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