i7-12700K vs Celeron G540

Aggregate performance score

Celeron G540
2011
2 cores / 2 threads, 65 Watt
0.77
Core i7-12700K
2021
12 cores / 20 threads, 125 Watt
22.61
+2836%

Core i7-12700K outperforms Celeron G540 by a whopping 2836% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2656238
Place by popularitynot in top-10057
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.0140.38
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
Seriesno dataIntel Core i7
Power efficiency1.0816.49
Architecture codenameSandy Bridge (2011−2013)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release date4 September 2011 (13 years ago)27 October 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$158$409

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i7-12700K has 403700% better value for money than Celeron G540.

Detailed specifications

Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K 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)12 (Dodeca-Core)
Threads220
Base clock speed2.5 GHz3.6 GHz
Boost clock speed2.5 GHz5 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rateno data8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data36
L1 cache64 KB (per core)384 KB
L2 cache256 KB (per core)2 MB
L3 cache2 MB (shared)1 MB
Chip lithography32 nm10 nm
Die size131 mm2215.25 mm2
Maximum core temperature69 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors504 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K 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
SocketFCLGA1155FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)65 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
FMA-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology-2.0
Hyper-Threading Technology-+
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring++
Flex Memory Access+no data
SIPP-+
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
FDI+no data
Fast Memory Access+no data
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT-+
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K are enumerated here.

VT-d-+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size32 GB128 GB
Max memory channels22
Maximum memory bandwidth17 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardIntel® HD Graphics for 2nd Generation Intel® ProcessorsIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HD-+
Graphics max frequency1 GHz1.5 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supported24

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K.

PCIe version2.05.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

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.

Celeron G540 0.77
i7-12700K 22.61
+2836%

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.

Celeron G540 1181
i7-12700K 34595
+2829%

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.

Celeron G540 397
i7-12700K 2555
+544%

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.

Celeron G540 683
i7-12700K 13795
+1920%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 0.77 22.61
Recency 4 September 2011 27 October 2021
Physical cores 2 12
Threads 2 20
Chip lithography 32 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 65 Watt 125 Watt

Celeron G540 has 92.3% lower power consumption.

i7-12700K, on the other hand, has a 2836.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 years, 500% more physical cores and 900% more threads, and a 220% more advanced lithography process.

The Core i7-12700K is our recommended choice as it beats the Celeron G540 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Celeron G540 and Core i7-12700K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite CPU.


Intel Celeron G540
Celeron G540
Intel Core i7-12700K
Core i7-12700K

Similar processor comparisons

We picked several similar comparisons of processors in the same market segment and performance relatively close to those reviewed on this page.

Community ratings

Here you can see how users rate the processors, as well as rate them yourself.


2.8 106 votes

Rate Celeron G540 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.2 1905 votes

Rate Core i7-12700K on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about Celeron G540 or Core i7-12700K, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.