Core i3-2120T vs Celeron G1840T
Core i3-2120T
Celeron G1840T
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 i3-2120T is positioned at rank 956 and the Celeron G1840T is on rank 525, so the Celeron G1840T offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2120T
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1840T
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2120T | Celeron G1840T |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2120T | Celeron G1840T |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+281%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($38) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 i3-2120T and Celeron G1840T
Core i3-2120T
The Core i3-2120T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,570 points. Launch price was $50.
Celeron G1840T
The Celeron G1840T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,576 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2120T packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G1840T's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i3-2120T versus 2.5 GHz on the Celeron G1840T — a 3.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-2120T (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-2120T uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G1840T uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2120T scores 1,570 against the Celeron G1840T's 1,576 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron G1840T. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i3-2120T | Celeron G1840T |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+4% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+4% | 2.5 GHz |
| 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 | 1,570 | 1,576 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 403 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2120T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G1840T uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H61,B65,Q65,Q67,H67,P67,Z68,B75,Q75,Q77,H77,Z75,Z77 (Core i3-2120T) and H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1840T).
| Feature | Core i3-2120T | Celeron G1840T |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2120T) vs VT-x (Celeron G1840T). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2000 (Core i3-2120T) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron G1840T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2120T targets Budget Desktop, Celeron G1840T targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-2120T rivals A6-3500; Celeron G1840T rivals Pentium G3240T.
| Feature | Core i3-2120T | Celeron G1840T |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 2000 | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, EPT | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-2120T launched at $127 MSRP, while the Celeron G1840T debuted at $42. At current prices ($38 vs $10), the Celeron G1840T is $28 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2120T delivers 41.3 pts/$ vs 157.6 pts/$ for the Celeron G1840T — making the Celeron G1840T the 116.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-2120T | Celeron G1840T |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $127 | $42-67% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $38 | $10-74% |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.3 | 157.6+282% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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