Intel Pentium G2030T

Intel Pentium G2030T in 2025: A Budget Chip for Undemanding Tasks
A current overview for those seeking minimalism and savings
1. Key Characteristics: An Outdated but Resilient Architecture
The Intel Pentium G2030T processor, released in 2013, is still found in budget builds due to its low power consumption and availability.
- Architecture: Ivy Bridge (3rd generation Core).
- Process Technology: 22 nm — archaic for 2025, but provides low heat.
- Performance: Geekbench 6 - 424 (Single-Core), 750 (Multi-Core). For comparison, the modern Celeron G6900 (2023) scores around 1500/2800.
- Key Features: TDP of 35 W (passive cooling is possible), integrated Intel HD graphics (DirectX 11, 4K output via DisplayPort).
Practical Example: In 2024, a user built a media center with the G2030T on a Mini-ITX board — the chip handles 1080p streaming video adequately, but 4K HDR causes lag.
2. Compatible Motherboards: Hunting for Rarities
The processor uses the LGA 1155 socket, which is no longer in production.
- Chipsets: H61, B75, H77, Z77.
- Selection Features: New boards are not produced. As of April 2025, prices for remaining stock start from $60 (ASRock H61M-DGS) to $120 for top-tier Z77.
- Recommendation: Look for boards with HDMI/DVI and SATA III — this will simplify connecting SSDs and monitors.
Important: Many boards’ BIOS do not support UEFI, which can complicate the installation of Windows 11.
3. Supported Memory: Only DDR3
The Pentium G2030T exclusively works with DDR3:
- Frequencies: Up to 1333 MHz (officially), but some boards allow overclocking to 1600 MHz.
- Capacity: Maximum 32 GB (theoretically), but in practice, 8-16 GB is optimal.
Tip: Use dual-channel mode (2×4 GB instead of 1×8 GB) for a 10-15% performance boost.
4. Power Supply: Minimal Requirements
With a TDP of 35 W, the processor puts minimal load on the system:
- Recommended PSU: 300-400 W (for example, be quiet! Pure Power 11 400W, $45).
- Details: If adding a discrete graphics card (for example, GT 1030), a 450 W PSU will suffice.
Real Case: A build with the G2030T + SSD + 8 GB DDR3 consumes around 50 W at idle and up to 90 W under load.
5. Pros and Cons: Who Is It Suitable For?
Pros:
- Price: New processor (from remaining stock) — $25-30.
- Energy Efficiency: Ideal for 24/7 operation (home server).
- Quiet Operation: Passive cooler or compact active cooler.
Cons:
- No AVX, NVMe, USB 3.1 support.
- Weak IPC: Inferior to even budget AMD Athlon 3000G (2019).
6. Use Cases: Where Is the G2030T Still Relevant?
- Office Tasks: Word, Excel, browser with 5-10 tabs.
- Multimedia: Watching Full HD videos, streaming (via LAN).
- Retro Gaming: Games up to 2012 (e.g., Skyrim on low settings).
- Servers: NAS based on OpenMediaVault or a home router (pfSense).
Limitation: Running Chrome with 20+ tabs will cause noticeable stuttering.
7. Comparison with Competitors
- Intel Celeron G5900 (2020): 2 cores, 2 threads, Geekbench 6 - 800/1450. Price: $40. Pros: DDR4 support, LGA 1200 socket.
- AMD Athlon 3000G (2019): 2 cores/4 threads, Vega 3 GPU, Geekbench 6 - 950/1800. Price: $55. Pros: Unlocked multiplier.
Conclusion: The G2030T falls behind in performance but wins in price and availability on the secondary market.
8. Practical Assembly Tips
1. Motherboard: Choose models with USB 3.0 (ASUS P8B75-M) for fast flash drives.
2. Storage: An SSD is a must (Kingston A400 240 GB, $20) — an HDD will "kill" responsiveness.
3. Cooling: A stock cooler or even a passive one is sufficient (Noctua NH-P1, but that’s overkill).
4. Upgrade: Don’t consider the G2030T as a long-term solution — it’s a temporary option for a super-budget build.
Example Configuration:
- Processor: G2030T ($30).
- Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H61M-S1 ($65).
- Memory: 8 GB DDR3 ($15).
- SSD: 240 GB ($20).
- PSU: 400 W ($45).
Total: $175 without a case.
9. Final Conclusion: Who Is the Pentium G2030T Suitable For?
This processor is worth considering only in three cases:
1. Super Budget Build: When you need to stay under $200 for an office PC.
2. Upgrading an Old System: If you already have a motherboard on LGA 1155.
3. Energy-Efficient Projects: Media center or server running 24/7.
Alternative for 2025: For $50-70, you can find used Intel Core i5-4xxx or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, which offer 2-3 times higher performance. But if your priority is minimal investment and low power consumption, the G2030T is still valid.
Basic
CPU Specifications
Memory Specifications
GPU Specifications
Miscellaneous
Benchmarks
Compared to Other CPU
Share in social media
Or Link To Us
<a href="https://cputronic.com/index.php/cpu/intel-pentium-g2030t" target="_blank">Intel Pentium G2030T</a>