
Core i3-3217UE vs Pentium Silver A1030

Core i3-3217UE

Pentium Silver A1030
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 i3-3217UE is positioned at rank 1187 and the Pentium Silver A1030 is on rank 1140, so the Pentium Silver A1030 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3217UE
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Silver A1030
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3217UE | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Legacy / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3217UE | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ 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 i3-3217UE and Pentium Silver A1030

Core i3-3217UE
The Core i3-3217UE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 August 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: unknown Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 1,362 points. Launch price was $69.

Pentium Silver A1030
The Pentium Silver A1030 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: upto-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 1,380 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3217UE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium Silver A1030's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Core i3-3217UE versus 2.7 GHz on the Pentium Silver A1030 — a 51.2% clock advantage for the Pentium Silver A1030. The Core i3-3217UE is built on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Core i3-3217UE scores 1,362 against the Pentium Silver A1030's 1,380 — a 1.3% lead for the Pentium Silver A1030. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3217UE vs 4 MB on the Pentium Silver A1030.
| Feature | Core i3-3217UE | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.7 GHz+69% |
| Base Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | — |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | — |
| PassMark | 1,362 | 1,380+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 353 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 790 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3217UE uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium Silver A1030 uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3217UE | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | FCBGA1090 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i3-3217UE) / not specified (Pentium Silver A1030). The Core i3-3217UE includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Pentium Silver A1030 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3217UE targets Embedded.
| Feature | Core i3-3217UE | Pentium Silver A1030 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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