Pentium G4400 vs Core i5-3230M

CPU

GPU

Pentium G4400

2 Cores2 Thrd54 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2015

Core i5-3230M

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2013

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Pentium G4400

2 / 2

2,562

0.0%

2,565

+0.1%

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 G4400 is positioned at rank 499 and the Core i5-3230M is on rank 30, so the Core i5-3230M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium G4400

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

7787%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

7358%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

5342%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

1609%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

1275%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

1115%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

639%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

630%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

574%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

574%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

568%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

552%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

545%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

542%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

537%

#256

Ryzen 7 1700X

MSRP: $399|Avg: $60

98%

#371

Core 5 120UL

MSRP: $277|Avg: $270

98%

#372

Ryzen Embedded V3C14

MSRP: $305|Avg: $305

97%

#373

Core i7-9700T

MSRP: $323|Avg: $276

96%

#499

Pentium G4400

MSRP: $64|Avg: $85

100%

#501

Core i5-8600K

MSRP: $257|Avg: $100

99%

#505

Athlon II X4 651

MSRP: $92|Avg: $92

97%

#511

Athlon X4 880K

MSRP: $95|Avg: $25

96%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i5-3230M

#18

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

172%

#19

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

169%

#20

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

155%

#21

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

155%

#22

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

153%

#24

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

148%

#25

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

142%

#26

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

142%

#27

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

138%

#30

Core i5-3230M

MSRP: $225|Avg: $13

100%

#31

Atom D525

MSRP: $63|Avg: N/A

100%

#32

Atom x7835RE

MSRP: $127|Avg: N/A

99%

#33

Core 2 Duo P8400

MSRP: $209|Avg: $10

97%

#38

Core 2 Duo T8100

MSRP: $209|Avg: $10

90%

#39

Atom 330

MSRP: $43|Avg: $30

89%

#43

Core 2 Duo SU7300

MSRP: $289|Avg: N/A

87%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Pentium G4400 leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i5-3230M is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.1% greater multi-core processing power.

Insight	Pentium G4400	Core i5-3230M
Gaming	✅ Superior gaming performance	❌ Lower gaming performance
Workstation	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks	✅ Better multi-core power
Price	⚠️ Higher cost ($85)	✅ More affordable ($13)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the Core i5-3230M stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 85% cheaper ($13 vs $85) while identifying as the stronger performer.

Insight	Pentium G4400	Core i5-3230M
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	✅ Better overall value (+555%)
Upfront Cost	⚠️ Higher cost ($85)	✅ More affordable ($13)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Pentium G4400 Benchmark Check

Core i5-3230M Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

No prediction data available

Valorant

No prediction data available

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Pentium G4400 and Core i5-3230M

Pentium G4400

The Pentium G4400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,562 points. Launch price was $64.

Core i5-3230M

The Core i5-3230M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,565 points. Launch price was $225.

⚡

Processing Power

The Pentium G4400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-3230M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.3 GHz on the Pentium G4400 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i5-3230M — a 3.1% clock advantage for the Pentium G4400 (base: 3.3 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Pentium G4400 uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-3230M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G4400 scores 2,562 against the Core i5-3230M's 2,565 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i5-3230M. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Pentium G4400 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-3230M.

Feature	Pentium G4400	Core i5-3230M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.3 GHz+3%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.3 GHz+27%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	2,562	2,565
Geekbench 6 Single	—	565
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,128

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Pentium G4400 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-3230M uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Pentium G4400	Core i5-3230M
Socket	LGA1151	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	—	DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	❌
PCIe Lanes	—	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G4400) / VT-x, VT-d (Core i5-3230M). The Core i5-3230M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Pentium G4400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-3230M targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i5-3230M rivals Ryzen 5 3500U.

Feature	Pentium G4400	Core i5-3230M
Integrated GPU	—	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics 4000
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	—	Gaming

💰

Value Analysis

The Pentium G4400 launched at $64 MSRP, while the Core i5-3230M debuted at $225. At current prices ($85 vs $13), the Core i5-3230M is $72 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G4400 delivers 30.1 pts/$ vs 197.3 pts/$ for the Core i5-3230M — making the Core i5-3230M the 147% better value option.