Pentium G2010 vs Core i3-550
Pentium G2010
Core i3-550
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 G2010 is positioned at rank 669 and the Core i3-550 is on rank 965, so the Pentium G2010 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G2010
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G2010 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G2010 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| 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 Pentium G2010 and Core i3-550
Pentium G2010
The Pentium G2010 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3072 kB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,641 points. Launch price was $466.
Core i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
Processing Power
The Pentium G2010 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-550's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G2010 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-550 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Pentium G2010 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-550 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G2010 scores 1,641 against the Core i3-550's 1,632 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium G2010. L3 cache: 3072 kB (total) on the Pentium G2010 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-550.
| Feature | Pentium G2010 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.2 GHz+14% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.2 GHz+14% |
| L3 Cache | 3072 kB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,641 | 1,632 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 1,320 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 437 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 899 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G2010 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-550 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G2010 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G2010) / Yes (Core i3-550). The Core i3-550 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Pentium G2010 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Pentium G2010 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | Yes |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G2010 launched at $64 MSRP, while the Core i3-550 debuted at $138. At current prices ($5 vs $5), the Core i3-550 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G2010 delivers 328.2 pts/$ vs 326.4 pts/$ for the Core i3-550 — making the Pentium G2010 the 0.5% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G2010 | Core i3-550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $64-54% | $138 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5 | $5 |
| Performance per Dollar | 328.2 | 326.4 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2010 |
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