CPU
GPU
Pentium Gold 5405U
Core i3-3240
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 Gold 5405U is positioned at rank 476 and the Core i3-3240 is on rank 847, so the Pentium Gold 5405U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium Gold 5405U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3240
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Gold 5405U | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Gold 5405U | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium Gold 5405U and Core i3-3240
Pentium Gold 5405U
The Pentium Gold 5405U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 January 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,357 points. Launch price was $161.
Core i3-3240
The Core i3-3240 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (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: 2,352 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium Gold 5405U and Core i3-3240 share an identical 2-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Pentium Gold 5405U versus 3.4 GHz on the Core i3-3240 — a 38.6% clock advantage for the Core i3-3240 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Pentium Gold 5405U uses the Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-3240 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Gold 5405U scores 2,357 against the Core i3-3240's 2,352 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium Gold 5405U. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium Gold 5405U vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3240.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 5405U | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+48% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.4 GHz+48% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Whiskey Lake-U (2018−2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,357 | 2,352 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Gold 5405U uses the FCBGA1528 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-3240 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium Gold 5405U | Core i3-3240 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1528 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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