Core i3-2310E vs Core i3-4100E

Core i3-2310E

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.1 GHz2011

Core i3-4100E

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2013

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-2310E

2 / 4

1,845

0.0%

1,848

+0.2%

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 i3-2310E is positioned at rank 1130 and the Core i3-4100E is on rank 1127, so the Core i3-4100E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2310E

#1118

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3578%

#1119

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3526%

#1120

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3237%

#1121

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3222%

#1122

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3192%

#1124

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3083%

#1125

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2956%

#1126

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2951%

#1127

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2872%

#1130

Core i3-2310E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $20

100%

#1131

Core i5-2510E

MSRP: $230|Avg: $30

100%

#1132

Core m5-6Y54

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

100%

#1134

Core i3-2330E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $10

99%

#1135

Core i5-4288U

MSRP: $342|Avg: N/A

95%

#1136

Core m3-6Y30

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

95%

#1137

Core i3-2340UE

MSRP: $200|Avg: $200

94%

#1138

Core i7-2820QM

MSRP: $568|Avg: N/A

94%

#1139

Core i5-520M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

94%

#1141

Celeron 807

MSRP: $70|Avg: $10

93%

#1142

Pentium B950

MSRP: $134|Avg: $35

93%

#1143

Celeron 220

MSRP: $42|Avg: $42

93%

#1144

Pentium B960

MSRP: $134|Avg: $15

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4100E

#1114

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

3574%

#1115

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

3521%

#1116

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

3233%

#1117

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

3218%

#1118

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

3189%

#1120

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

3079%

#1121

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

2952%

#1122

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

2948%

#1123

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

2868%

#1126

Pentium Dual Core T4300

MSRP: $150|Avg: $99

100%

#1127

Core i3-4100E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $30

100%

#1128

Core i7-3520M

MSRP: $346|Avg: N/A

100%

#1129

Core i3-2310E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $20

100%

#1130

Core i5-2510E

MSRP: $230|Avg: $30

100%

#1131

Core m5-6Y54

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

99%

#1133

Core i3-2330E

MSRP: $225|Avg: $10

99%

#1134

Core i5-4288U

MSRP: $342|Avg: N/A

95%

#1135

Core m3-6Y30

MSRP: $281|Avg: $281

95%

#1136

Core i3-2340UE

MSRP: $200|Avg: $200

94%

#1137

Core i7-2820QM

MSRP: $568|Avg: N/A

94%

#1138

Core i5-520M

MSRP: $225|Avg: N/A

94%

#1140

Celeron 807

MSRP: $70|Avg: $10

93%

#1141

Pentium B950

MSRP: $134|Avg: $35

93%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i3-4100E delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i3-2310E in both compute-intensive tasks (0.2% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i3-2310E	Core i3-4100E
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	✅ More affordable ($20)	⚠️ Higher cost ($30)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Value Proposition: While both processors are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Core i3-2310E holds the technical lead in efficiency. Priced at $20 (vs $30), it costs 33% less. While offering basic entry-level performance, it results in a 50% higher cost efficiency score compared to the Core i3-4100E.

Insight	Core i3-2310E	Core i3-4100E
Cost Efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+50%)	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($20)	⚠️ Higher cost ($30)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Core i3-2310E Benchmark Check

Core i3-4100E Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-2310E and Core i3-4100E

Core i3-2310E

The Core i3-2310E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,845 points. Launch price was $225.

Core i3-4100E

The Core i3-4100E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1364. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB + 3 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,848 points. Launch price was $225.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-2310E and Core i3-4100E share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-2310E versus 2.4 GHz on the Core i3-4100E — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-4100E (base: 2.1 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Core i3-2310E uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-4100E uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-2310E scores 1,845 against the Core i3-4100E's 1,848 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-4100E. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i3-2310E	Core i3-4100E
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.1 GHz	2.4 GHz+14%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	2.4 GHz+14%
L3 Cache	3 MB (total)	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	22 nm-31%
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	1,845	1,848
Geekbench 6 Single	—	550

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-2310E uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4100E uses BGA1364 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Core i3-2310E versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-4100E — the Core i3-2310E supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,QS67 (Core i3-2310E) and QM87,HM86,HM87 (Core i3-4100E).

Feature	Core i3-2310E	Core i3-4100E
Socket	BGA1023	BGA1364
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1333+44333%	DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity	16	16 GB+104857500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	❌	✅
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i3-2310E) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-4100E). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 3000 (Core i3-2310E) and HD Graphics 4600 (Core i3-4100E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-4100E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i3-2310E rivals Core i3-2330M; Core i3-4100E rivals Embedded R-Series.

Feature	Core i3-2310E	Core i3-4100E
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics 3000	HD Graphics 4600
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	—	Embedded

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i3-2310E launched at $225 MSRP, while the Core i3-4100E debuted at $225. At current prices ($20 vs $30), the Core i3-2310E is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-2310E delivers 92.3 pts/$ vs 61.6 pts/$ for the Core i3-4100E — making the Core i3-2310E the 39.8% better value option.