Core i5-540M vs Celeron G1840
Core i5-540M
Celeron G1840
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 i5-540M is positioned at rank 432 and the Celeron G1840 is on rank 420, so the Celeron G1840 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-540M
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1840
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Celeron G1840 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-540M | Celeron G1840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 i5-540M and Celeron G1840
Core i5-540M
The Core i5-540M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 3.07 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,796 points. Launch price was $257.
Celeron G1840
The Celeron G1840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 May 2014 (11 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: 3 MB (total). 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: 1,784 points. Launch price was $53.
Processing Power
The Core i5-540M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G1840's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.07 GHz on the Core i5-540M versus 2.8 GHz on the Celeron G1840 — a 9.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-540M (base: 2.53 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-540M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G1840 uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-540M scores 1,796 against the Celeron G1840's 1,784 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-540M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 488, a 47.7% lead for the Celeron G1840 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 700 vs 832 (17.2% advantage for the Celeron G1840). Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Celeron G1840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.07 GHz+10% | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.53 GHz | 2.8 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,796 | 1,784 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | 488+63% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | 832+19% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-540M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G1840 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Celeron G1840 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM55,QM57,HM57,QS57,PM55 (Core i5-540M) and H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1840).
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Celeron G1840 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA1150 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-540M) vs VT-x (Celeron G1840). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Core i5-540M) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron G1840) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-540M targets Mainstream Laptop, Celeron G1840 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-540M rivals AMD Turion II Ultra M660; Celeron G1840 rivals Pentium G3240.
| Feature | Core i5-540M | Celeron G1840 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Budget |
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