Core i5-680 vs Pentium B940
Core i5-680
Pentium B940
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 i5-680 is positioned at rank 1014 and the Pentium B940 is on rank 895, so the Pentium B940 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-680
Performance Per Dollar Pentium B940
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-680 | Pentium B940 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-680 | Pentium B940 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+10%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($11) |
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 i5-680 and Pentium B940
Core i5-680
The Core i5-680 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 April 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.86 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: 2,620 points. Launch price was $272.
Pentium B940
The Pentium B940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 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: 2,610 points. Launch price was $134.
Processing Power
The Core i5-680 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Pentium B940's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.86 GHz on the Core i5-680 versus 2 GHz on the Pentium B940 — a 63.5% clock advantage for the Core i5-680 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i5-680 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium B940 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-680 scores 2,620 against the Pentium B940's 2,610 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-680. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-680 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B940.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Pentium B940 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.86 GHz+93% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+80% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+100% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,620 | 2,610 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-680 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium B940 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Pentium B940 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-680) / not specified (Pentium B940). The Core i5-680 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Pentium B940 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-680 targets Desktop.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Pentium B940 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Core i5-680 launched at $294 MSRP, while the Pentium B940 debuted at $134. At current prices ($10 vs $11), the Core i5-680 is $1 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-680 delivers 262.0 pts/$ vs 237.3 pts/$ for the Pentium B940 — making the Core i5-680 the 9.9% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-680 | Pentium B940 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $294 | $134-54% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-9% | $11 |
| Performance per Dollar | 262.0+10% | 237.3 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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