Intel Pentium G2010 vs Core i3-540

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Combined performance score

i3-540
1.00

Pentium G2010 outperforms Core i3-540 by 5% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

Comparing Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010 processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in performance ranking23252288
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Value for money0.110.08
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Architecture codenameClarkdale (2010−2011)Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
Release date7 January 2010 (14 years old)21 January 2013 (11 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$45$466
Current price$46 (1x MSRP)$104 (0.2x MSRP)
Value for money

Performance per price, higher is better.

i3-540 has 38% better value for money than Pentium G2010.

Technical specs

Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010 basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores2 (Dual-core)2 (Dual-core)
Threads42
Base clock speed3.06 GHz2.8 GHz
Boost clock speed0.07 GHz2.8 GHz
L1 cache64 KB (per core)64 KB (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)256 KB (per core)
L3 cache4 MB (shared)3072 KB (shared)
Chip lithography32 nm22 nm
Die size81 mm294 mm2
Maximum core temperature73 °Cno data
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data65 °C
Number of transistors382 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility--
Unlocked multiplierNoNo

Compatibility

Information on Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010 compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA1156FCLGA1155
Power consumption (TDP)73 Watt55 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2
AES-NI--
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
My WiFino data-
Turbo Boost Technology--
Hyper-Threading Technology+-
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data
FDI+no data
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued

Security technologies

Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010 technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT--
EDB++
Secure Keyno data-
Anti-Theftno data-

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010 are enumerated here.

VT-dno data-
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR3
Maximum memory size16.38 GB32 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth21 GB/s21 GB/s
ECC memory supportno data+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® ProcessorsIntel® HD Graphics for 3rd Generation Intel® Processors
Clear Video HD+-
Graphics max frequencyno data1.05 GHz

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010 integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported23

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010.

PCIe version2.02.0
PCI Express lanes16no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i3-540 1.00
Pentium G2010 1.05
+5%

Pentium G2010 outperforms Core i3-540 by 5% in our combined benchmark results.


Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

Benchmark coverage: 68%

i3-540 1535
Pentium G2010 1620
+5.5%

Pentium G2010 outperforms Core i3-540 by 6% in Passmark.

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i3-540 408
Pentium G2010 442
+8.3%

Pentium G2010 outperforms Core i3-540 by 8% in GeekBench 5 Single-Core.

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

Benchmark coverage: 42%

i3-540 841
+33.5%
Pentium G2010 630

Core i3-540 outperforms Pentium G2010 by 33% in GeekBench 5 Multi-Core.

Gaming performance

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 1.00 1.05
Recency 7 January 2010 21 January 2013
Threads 4 2
Cost $45 $466
Chip lithography 32 nm 22 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 73 Watt 55 Watt

We couldn't decide between Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010. The differences in performance seem too small.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i3-540 and Pentium G2010, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

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Intel Core i3-540
Core i3-540
Intel Pentium G2010
Pentium G2010

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Questions and comments

Here you can ask a question about Core i3-540 or Pentium G2010, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.