Pentium G3420 vs Core i3-2102
Pentium G3420
Core i3-2102
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 G3420 is positioned at rank 714 and the Core i3-2102 is on rank 857, so the Pentium G3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2102
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+168%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium G3420 and Core i3-2102
Pentium G3420
The Pentium G3420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,022 points. Launch price was $252.
Core i3-2102
The Core i3-2102 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,029 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Pentium G3420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2102's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3420 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Pentium G3420 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-2102 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3420 scores 2,022 against the Core i3-2102's 2,029 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-2102. Both processors carry 3 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+3% | 3.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz+3% | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,022 | 2,029 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 515 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,082 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium G3420 uses the LGA1150 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-2102 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1150 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G3420) / VT-x (Core i3-2102). The Core i3-2102 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 2000), while the Pentium G3420 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Office Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3420 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Core i3-2102 debuted at $117. At current prices ($40 vs $15), the Core i3-2102 is $25 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G3420 delivers 50.5 pts/$ vs 135.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-2102 — making the Core i3-2102 the 91.2% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-26% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $15-63% |
| Performance per Dollar | 50.5 | 135.3+168% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2011 |
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