Core i3-2130 vs Celeron 2955U
Core i3-2130
Celeron 2955U
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 i3-2130 is positioned at rank 899 and the Celeron 2955U is on rank 427, so the Celeron 2955U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2130
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2955U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-2130 | Celeron 2955U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($138) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-2130 | Celeron 2955U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($138) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i3-2130 and Celeron 2955U
Core i3-2130
The Core i3-2130 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 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: 2,067 points. Launch price was $123.
Celeron 2955U
The Celeron 2955U 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 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,069 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-2130 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 2955U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-2130 versus 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2955U — a 83.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-2130 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i3-2130 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 2955U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2130 scores 2,067 against the Celeron 2955U's 2,069 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron 2955U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2130 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2955U.
| Feature | Core i3-2130 | Celeron 2955U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+143% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+143% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,067 | 2,069 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 505 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-2130 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2955U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Core i3-2130 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-2130) vs 10 (Celeron 2955U) — the Core i3-2130 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H61,B65,H67,P67,Z68,Q67,Q75,H77,Z75,Z77 (Core i3-2130) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2955U).
| Feature | Core i3-2130 | Celeron 2955U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+60% | 10 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2130) vs VT-x (Celeron 2955U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 2000 (Core i3-2130) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2955U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2130 targets Mainstream Desktop, Celeron 2955U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-2130 rivals Pentium G860; Celeron 2955U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Core i3-2130 | Celeron 2955U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mainstream Desktop | Budget |
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