Pentium B940 vs Core i3-7102E
Pentium B940
Core i3-7102E
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 Pentium B940 is positioned at rank 895 and the Core i3-7102E is on rank 974, 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 Pentium B940
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7102E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium B940 | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($11) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium B940 | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+630%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($11) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 Pentium B940 and Core i3-7102E
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.
Core i3-7102E
The Core i3-7102E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,599 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Pentium B940 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-7102E's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Pentium B940 versus 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-7102E — a 4.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-7102E. The Pentium B940 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-7102E uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium B940 scores 2,610 against the Core i3-7102E's 2,599 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium B940. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B940 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-7102E.
| Feature | Pentium B940 | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.1 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,610 | 2,599 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 659 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,962 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,898 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium B940) / Yes (Core i3-7102E). The Core i3-7102E includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 630), while the Pentium B940 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Pentium B940 | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 630 |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Pentium B940 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Core i3-7102E debuted at $225. At current prices ($11 vs $80), the Pentium B940 is $69 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium B940 delivers 237.3 pts/$ vs 32.5 pts/$ for the Core i3-7102E — making the Pentium B940 the 151.8% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium B940 | Core i3-7102E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134-40% | $225 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $11-86% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 237.3+630% | 32.5 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2017 |
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