Core i3-3240T vs Celeron 2957U
Core i3-3240T
Celeron 2957U
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 i3-3240T is positioned at rank 851 and the Celeron 2957U is on rank 53, so the Celeron 2957U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3240T
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2957U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3240T | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($8) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3240T | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($8) | ✅ 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 i3-3240T and Celeron 2957U
Core i3-3240T
The Core i3-3240T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,078 points. Launch price was $69.
Celeron 2957U
The Celeron 2957U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2014 (11 years ago). 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. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,077 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3240T packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 2957U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i3-3240T versus 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2957U — a 72.7% clock advantage for the Core i3-3240T (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Core i3-3240T uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron 2957U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3240T scores 2,078 against the Celeron 2957U's 2,077 — a 0% lead for the Core i3-3240T. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3240T vs 2 MB on the Celeron 2957U.
| Feature | Core i3-3240T | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+114% | 1.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+107% | 1.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 2,078 | 2,077 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 284 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3240T uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron 2957U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3240T | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 10 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-3240T) / VT-x (Celeron 2957U). The Celeron 2957U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Core i3-3240T requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2957U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2957U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Core i3-3240T | Celeron 2957U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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