Core i3-540 vs Celeron G1830
Core i3-540
Celeron G1830
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 i3-540 is positioned at rank 970 and the Celeron G1830 is on rank 594, so the Celeron G1830 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-540
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1830
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Celeron G1830 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-540 | Celeron G1830 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-540 and Celeron G1830
Core i3-540
The Core i3-540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.06 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,554 points. Launch price was $45.
Celeron G1830
The Celeron G1830 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,560 points. Launch price was $85.
Processing Power
The Core i3-540 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G1830's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Core i3-540 versus 2.8 GHz on the Celeron G1830 — a 190.2% clock advantage for the Celeron G1830 (base: 3.06 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-540 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G1830 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-540 scores 1,554 against the Celeron G1830's 1,560 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron G1830. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-540 vs 2 MB on the Celeron G1830.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Celeron G1830 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 2.8 GHz+3900% |
| Base Clock | 3.06 GHz+9% | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+100% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,554 | 1,560 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 496 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 910 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-540 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G1830 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Celeron G1830 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-540) / VT-x (Celeron G1830). The Celeron G1830 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Core i3-540 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1830 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G1830 rivals Pentium G3220.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Celeron G1830 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Core i3-540 launched at $133 MSRP, while the Celeron G1830 debuted at $52. At current prices ($5 vs $5), the Celeron G1830 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i3-540 delivers 310.8 pts/$ vs 312.0 pts/$ for the Celeron G1830 — making the Celeron G1830 the 0.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i3-540 | Celeron G1830 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $133 | $52-61% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5 | $5 |
| Performance per Dollar | 310.8 | 312.0 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2013 |
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