Celeron N2840 vs Core i5-480M
Celeron N2840
Core i5-480M
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 N2840 is positioned at rank 157 and the Core i5-480M is on rank 6, so the Core i5-480M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N2840
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-480M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron N2840 | Core i5-480M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron N2840 | Core i5-480M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) |
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 N2840 and Core i5-480M
Celeron N2840
The Celeron N2840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.16 GHz, with boost up to 2.58 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,331 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i5-480M
The Core i5-480M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 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: 1,327 points. Launch price was $81.
Processing Power
The Celeron N2840 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-480M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.58 GHz on the Celeron N2840 versus 2.93 GHz on the Core i5-480M — a 12.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-480M (base: 2.16 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Celeron N2840 uses the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-480M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron N2840 scores 1,331 against the Core i5-480M's 1,327 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron N2840. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron N2840 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-480M.
| Feature | Celeron N2840 | Core i5-480M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.58 GHz | 2.93 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 2.16 GHz | 2.66 GHz+23% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,331 | 1,327 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 230 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 430 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron N2840 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-480M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1333 on the Celeron N2840 versus 1066 on the Core i5-480M — the Core i5-480M supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Celeron N2840) vs 16 (Core i5-480M) — the Core i5-480M offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Celeron N2840) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-480M).
| Feature | Celeron N2840 | Core i5-480M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1333 | 1066+35433% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+104857500% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron N2840) vs true (Core i5-480M). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) (Celeron N2840) and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i5-480M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron N2840 targets Netbook. Direct competitor: Celeron N2840 rivals AMD A6-6310; Core i5-480M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Celeron N2840 | Core i5-480M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Netbook | — |
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