Core i7-2640M vs Celeron N4100
Core i7-2640M
Celeron N4100
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 i7-2640M is positioned at rank 1159 and the Celeron N4100 is on rank 330, so the Celeron N4100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-2640M
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N4100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-2640M | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont Plus (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-2640M | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($346) | ✅ 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 i7-2640M and Celeron N4100
Core i7-2640M
The Core i7-2640M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,445 points. Launch price was $346.
Celeron N4100
The Celeron N4100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2017 (7 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont Plus (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,453 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i7-2640M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron N4100 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N4100 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i7-2640M versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron N4100 — a 37.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-2640M (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i7-2640M uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron N4100 uses Goldmont Plus (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-2640M scores 2,445 against the Celeron N4100's 2,453 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron N4100. Both processors carry 4 MB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Core i7-2640M | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+46% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+155% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4 MB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Goldmont Plus (2017) |
| PassMark | 2,445 | 2,453 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 563 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,184 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-2640M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N4100 uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-2640M | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FCBGA1090 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-2640M) / not specified (Celeron N4100). The Core i7-2640M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000), while the Celeron N4100 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-2640M rivals Phenom II Black Edition N660.
| Feature | Core i7-2640M | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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