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Intel Pentium B940

Intel Pentium B940

Intel Pentium B940: Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in the Age of Modern Technology

(Analysis relevant as of April 2025)

Introduction

In a world dominated by multi-core processors with neural network accelerators, the Intel Pentium B940 seems like an anachronism. However, even in 2025, this chip remains in demand in ultra-budget laptops. Let’s explore who it is suitable for and where its capabilities may fall short.

Architecture and Process Technology: The Legacy of Sandy Bridge

Codename and Technology:

Released in 2011, this processor is built on the Sandy Bridge architecture with a 32 nm process. It was the first generation of Intel where the CPU and GPU were combined on a single chip, improving energy efficiency for its time.

Cores and Threads:

- 2 Cores, 2 Threads — a basic configuration for simple tasks.

- Clock Speed: Fixed at 2.0 GHz. Turbo mode is absent, limiting peak performance.

- Cache: 2 MB L3, which is half of what is found in a Core i3 of the same generation.

Integrated Graphics:

Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) operating at 650-1100 MHz. This is first-generation graphics with support for DirectX 10.1. By 2025, it has become outdated: even YouTube in 4K will experience lag.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Compromise Between Power and Battery Life

- TDP 35 W — higher than modern ULV processors (7-15 W).

- Heat Dissipation: Requires active cooling, which increases the thickness of the laptop.

- Idle Consumption: About 5-8 W due to SpeedStep technology, which dynamically adjusts the frequency.

Performance: Real-World Usage Scenarios

Office Work:

- Documents, spreadsheets, browser: Basic tasks are handled without issues, but with limitations:

- Opening 10+ tabs in Chrome will cause stuttering.

- Working with large Excel files (over 50,000 rows) will be slow.

Multimedia:

- Video: Streaming at 1080p (YouTube, Netflix) is stable. 4K is not hardware supported.

- Audio/Photo Editors: Audacity, Lightroom (basic retouching) — acceptable, but rendering will take time.

Gaming:

- Capabilities: Only old games at low settings:

- Half-Life 2: 40-50 FPS (720p).

- Minecraft (without shaders): 30-35 FPS.

- Modern titles like Fortnite — will not run.

Turbo Mode: Absent. Performance is strictly limited to 2.0 GHz.

Use Cases: Who is the Pentium B940 Suitable For?

1. Students: For attending lectures, writing papers, Zoom conferences.

2. Seniors: Working with email, messaging apps, viewing photos.

3. Backup Devices: An inexpensive laptop "on standby" for travel.

4. Cashiers/Office Terminals: For 1C and office applications.

Not Suitable For: Gamers, video editors, programmers (apart from basic web development).

Battery Life: How Long Will It Last?

- Typical Operating Time: 3-5 hours (with a battery capacity of 40-45 Wh).

- Energy Saving Technologies:

- SpeedStep: Reduces frequency to 800 MHz when idle.

- C-States: Turns off unused components.

- Tips:

- Lower screen brightness to 50%.

- Use the "Power Saving" mode in Windows.

- Replace HDD with SSD — this will lower overall energy consumption.

Comparison with Competitors: Who Were the Alternatives?

AMD E2-1800 (2012):

- Pros: Better graphics (Radeon HD 7340).

- Cons: Weaker in single-threaded tasks (Geekbench 6 Single Core ~250).

Intel Celeron N4020 (2019):

- Pros: TDP 6 W, 4K support, battery life of 8-10 hours.

- Cons: 30% weaker in multi-threaded performance.

Apple A12 Bionic (2018):

- Even a 7-year-old Apple chip in 2025 outperforms the Pentium B940 in single-core (Geekbench 6 ~1100).

Conclusion: The B940 lags behind modern budget processors, but excels in price.

Pros and Cons: When Is the Choice Justified?

Strengths:

- Price: Laptops with B940 cost $200-300 (new, for example, HP 255 G8).

- Repairability: Replacing the cooler or thermal paste takes 15 minutes.

- Compatibility: Works with Windows 10/11, Linux (Lubuntu/Xubuntu).

Weaknesses:

- No AVX Support: This limits compatibility with some software.

- Maximum 16 GB RAM: Critical for Windows 11.

- No USB 3.0: Only USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps).

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

Type of Device:

- Budget Laptop: Thickness from 25 mm, weight 2-2.5 kg.

- Nettops: For stationary use (for example, ASUS E210).

What to Look For:

1. Screen: IPS matrix is preferable to TN (viewing angles).

2. Storage: Must have SSD (even 128 GB).

3. Ports: HDMI, USB-C (rare for such models).

4. Battery: From 40 Wh.

Examples of 2025 Models:

- Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (B940, 4 GB, 128 GB SSD): $249.

- Acer Aspire 3 (B940, 8 GB, 256 GB SSD): $299.

Final Conclusion: Is It Worth Buying?

The Pentium B940 in 2025 is suitable for:

- Those looking for the cheapest new laptop.

- Users whose tasks are limited to browsing and office work.

- Scenarios where reliability is more important than performance.

Key Benefits:

- Minimal price.

- Ease of maintenance.

- Sufficient for basic digital skills.

Alternative: If your budget allows for $400-500, consider laptops with Intel Celeron N5100 or AMD Athlon Silver 7120U — they offer twice the performance and modern features (Wi-Fi 6, USB-C).

Conclusion: The Intel Pentium B940 is a veteran processor that finds its niche even 14 years after its release. It is a choice for those who prioritize economy over speed. However, remember: such a laptop is a temporary solution, not a long-term investment.

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Basic

Label Name
Intel
Platform
Mobile
Launch Date
April 2011
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
B940
Code Name
Sandy Bridge

CPU Specifications

Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
2
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
2
Intel Turbo Boost Technology
?
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.
No
Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
?
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.
No
CPU Socket
?
The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.
PGA988
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
32 nm
Max. Operating Temperature
?
Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.
85 C
PCI Express Version
?
PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.
2.0
Number of PCI Express Lanes
?
A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.
16
Instruction Set
?
The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.
64-bit
Intel 64
?
Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.
Yes
PCI Express Configurations
?
PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.
1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 2x4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
DDR3 1066/1333
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
16 GB
Memory Channels
?
The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.
2
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
21.3 GB/s
ECC Memory Supported
?
ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.
No

GPU Specifications

GPU Name
Intel® HD Graphics for 2nd Generation Intel® Processors
Graphics Frequency
?
Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.
1.10 GHz
Graphics Base Frequency
?
Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.
650 MHz
Number of Displays Supported
2
Graphics Output
?
Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.
eDP/DP/HDMI/SDVO/CRT

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
?
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.
No
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
?
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.
No
Instruction Set Extensions
Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology
?
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.
Yes
Execute Disable Bit
?
Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.
Yes
Intel AES New Instructions
?
Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.
No
Intel Clear Video HD Technology
?
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.
No
Intel Clear Video Technology
No
Intel InTru 3D Technology
No
Intel Flex Memory Access
Yes
Intel Quick Sync Video
?
Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.
No

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6
Single Core Score
319
Geekbench 6
Multi Core Score
548
Geekbench 5
Single Core Score
369
Geekbench 5
Multi Core Score
632
Passmark CPU
Single Core Score
849
Passmark CPU
Multi Core Score
849

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core
Phenom II X4 850
396 +24.1%
A8-5500
364 +14.1%
Pentium B940
319
A10-4655M
265 -16.9%
Pentium N3710
190 -40.4%
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
Xeon E5-4650 v3
755 +37.8%
Celeron G530T
656 +19.7%
Pentium B940
548
Pentium G620T
423 -22.8%
Atom N2800
214 -60.9%
Geekbench 5 Single Core
Xeon E5-2660 v2
430 +16.5%
Celeron G540T
407 +10.3%
Pentium B940
369
Celeron 1000M
337 -8.7%
Pentium 1405 V2
300 -18.7%
Geekbench 5 Multi Core
Celeron G1630
822 +30.1%
PRO A6-8550B
738 +16.8%
Pentium B940
632
A4-5150M
523 -17.2%
Pentium 2129Y
403 -36.2%
Passmark CPU Single Core
Core i3-2348M
1009 +18.8%
A10-5745M
953 +12.2%
Pentium B940
849
Opteron 6272
753 -11.3%
Celeron N3060
626 -26.3%
Passmark CPU Multi Core
Core i3-2328M
1236 +45.6%
Pentium B970
1090 +28.4%
Pentium B940
849
Celeron N3060
658 -22.5%
Atom N2800
444 -47.7%