Core i3-4030U vs Core i5-2515E

CPU

GPU

Core i3-4030U

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.9 GHz2014

Core i5-2515E

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 2.5 GHz2011

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i3-4030U

2 / 4

1,876

0.0%

1,882

+0.3%

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. The Core i3-4030U is positioned at rank #75 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Balanced cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

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 i3-4030U

#18

Ryzen 5 8500G

MSRP: $179|Avg: $150

96%

#63

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

235%

#64

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

231%

#65

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

212%

#66

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

211%

#67

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

209%

#69

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

202%

#70

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

194%

#71

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

193%

#72

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

188%

#75

Core i3-4030U

MSRP: $281|Avg: N/A

100%

#79

Atom D2500

MSRP: $42|Avg: N/A

97%

#88

Core 2 Duo T7500

MSRP: $316|Avg: $5

92%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Leadership: The Core i5-2515E delivers superior performance across the board. It outperforms the Core i3-4030U in both compute-intensive tasks (0.3% faster) and gaming workloads.

Insight	Core i3-4030U	Core i5-2515E
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($281)	✅ More affordable ($0)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Insight	Core i3-4030U	Core i5-2515E
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($281)	✅ More affordable ($0)

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 i3-4030U Benchmark Check

Core i5-2515E Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-4030U and Core i5-2515E

Core i3-4030U

The Core i3-4030U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 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: 1,876 points. Launch price was $281.

Core i5-2515E

The Core i5-2515E 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 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: 1,882 points. Launch price was $266.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i3-4030U and Core i5-2515E share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Core i3-4030U versus 2.5 GHz on the Core i5-2515E — a 27.3% clock advantage for the Core i5-2515E (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Core i3-4030U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i5-2515E uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4030U scores 1,876 against the Core i5-2515E's 1,882 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i5-2515E. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-4030U vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2515E.

Feature	Core i3-4030U	Core i5-2515E
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1.9 GHz	2.5 GHz+32%
Base Clock	1.9 GHz	2.5 GHz+32%
L3 Cache	3 MB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256K (per core)
Process	22 nm-31%	32 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,876	1,882
Geekbench 6 Single	—	530

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4030U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-2515E uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i3-4030U	Core i5-2515E
Socket	FCBGA1168	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	—	16 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	❌
PCIe Lanes	—	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-4030U) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2515E). The Core i5-2515E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 3000), while the Core i3-4030U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-2515E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Core i5-2515E rivals Embedded R-Series.