Core i3-2102 vs Pentium G3420
Core i3-2102
Pentium G3420
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 Core i3-2102 is positioned at rank 857 and the Pentium G3420 is on rank 714, so the Pentium G3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2102
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2102 | Pentium G3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2102 | Pentium G3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+168%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 Core i3-2102 and Pentium G3420
Core i3-2102
The Core i3-2102 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,029 points. Launch price was $69.
Pentium G3420
The Pentium G3420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,022 points. Launch price was $252.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2102 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium G3420's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 versus 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3420 — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Core i3-2102 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium G3420 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2102 scores 2,029 against the Pentium G3420's 2,022 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-2102. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Pentium G3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,029 | 2,022 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 515 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,082 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2102 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium G3420 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Pentium G3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-2102) / not specified (Pentium G3420). The Core i3-2102 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Pentium G3420 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Pentium G3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 2000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Office Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-2102 launched at $117 MSRP, while the Pentium G3420 debuted at $86. At current prices ($15 vs $40), the Core i3-2102 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2102 delivers 135.3 pts/$ vs 50.5 pts/$ for the Pentium G3420 — making the Core i3-2102 the 91.2% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-2102 | Pentium G3420 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $117 | $86-26% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-63% | $40 |
| Performance per Dollar | 135.3+168% | 50.5 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2013 |
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