CPU
GPU
Celeron M 540
Pentium G2030
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 M 540 is positioned at rank 873 and the Pentium G2030 is on rank 778, so the Pentium G2030 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron M 540
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G2030
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron M 540 | Pentium G2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron M 540 | Pentium G2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+319%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($20) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) |
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 M 540 and Pentium G2030
Celeron M 540
The Celeron M 540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.86 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,744 points. Launch price was $69.
Pentium G2030
The Pentium G2030 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,769 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Celeron M 540 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Pentium G2030 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Pentium G2030 has 1 more core. The Celeron M 540 is built on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. In PassMark, the Celeron M 540 scores 1,744 against the Pentium G2030's 1,769 — a 1.4% lead for the Pentium G2030.
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Pentium G2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 2 / 2+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.86 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | — | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 3 MB Intel® Smart Cache |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | — |
| Process | 65 nm | 22 nm-66% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | — |
| PassMark | 1,744 | 1,769+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 608 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 492 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 826 |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches 667 on the Celeron M 540 versus DDR3-1600 on the Pentium G2030 — the Celeron M 540 supports 198.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium G2030 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Celeron M 540) vs 16 (Pentium G2030) — the Pentium G2030 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: GL960,GM965 (Celeron M 540) and H61,B75,H77,Z77,Q77 (Pentium G2030).
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Pentium G2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | 667+22133% | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 | 32 GB+838860700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: false (Celeron M 540) vs VT-x (Pentium G2030). The Pentium G2030 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge GT1)), while the Celeron M 540 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium G2030 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron M 540 rivals Mobile Sempron 3600+; Pentium G2030 rivals Core i3-2100.
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Pentium G2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge GT1) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | false | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Celeron M 540 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Pentium G2030 debuted at $85. At current prices ($20 vs $85), the Celeron M 540 is $65 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron M 540 delivers 87.2 pts/$ vs 20.8 pts/$ for the Pentium G2030 — making the Celeron M 540 the 122.9% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron M 540 | Pentium G2030 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $85-1% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20-76% | $85 |
| Performance per Dollar | 87.2+319% | 20.8 |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2013 |
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