
Pentium G3250T vs Core i7-820QM

Pentium G3250T

Core i7-820QM
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 G3250T is positioned at rank 617 and the Core i7-820QM is on rank 1231, so the Pentium G3250T offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3250T
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-820QM
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3250T | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($546) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarksfield (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3250T | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1719%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($546) |
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 G3250T and Core i7-820QM

Pentium G3250T
The Pentium G3250T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 July 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): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,818 points. Launch price was $46.

Core i7-820QM
The Core i7-820QM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Clarksfield (2009−2010) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 1.73 GHz, with boost up to 3.06 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,819 points. Launch price was $546.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3250T packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-820QM offers 4 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-820QM has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium G3250T versus 3.06 GHz on the Core i7-820QM — a 8.9% clock advantage for the Core i7-820QM (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.73 GHz). The Pentium G3250T uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i7-820QM uses Clarksfield (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3250T scores 1,818 against the Core i7-820QM's 1,819 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-820QM. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3250T vs 8 MB (total) on the Core i7-820QM.
| Feature | Pentium G3250T | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 8+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.06 GHz+9% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+62% | 1.73 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 8 MB (total)+167% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Clarksfield (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,818 | 1,819 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3250T uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-820QM uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G3250T | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G3250T) / true (Core i7-820QM). Direct competitor: Core i7-820QM rivals Core 2 Quad Q9000.
| Feature | Pentium G3250T | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3250T launched at $64 MSRP, while the Core i7-820QM debuted at $546.
| Feature | Pentium G3250T | Core i7-820QM |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $64-88% | $546 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30 | — |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2009 |
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