A4-3420
Celeron N2820
A4-3420 vs Celeron N2820 Performance Spectrum
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.
A4-3420 vs Celeron N2820 FPS Benchmarks
Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.
Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
A4-3420 vs Celeron N2820: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.
A4-3420
2011Why buy it
- ✅+36.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
- ✅300% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
- ✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Celeron N2820.
Trade-offs
- ❌Launch MSRP is still $65 MSRP, while Celeron N2820 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
- ❌828.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 7W.
Celeron N2820
2013Why buy it
- ✅Draws 7W instead of 65W, a 58W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (220 vs 300).
- ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (400 vs 500).
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike A4-3420.
Quick Answers
So, is A4-3420 better than Celeron N2820?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A4-3420 vs Celeron N2820 Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
A4-3420
The A4-3420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,067 points. Launch price was $50.
Celeron N2820
The Celeron N2820 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.13 GHz, with boost up to 2.39 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,061 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
Both the A4-3420 and Celeron N2820 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the A4-3420 versus 2.39 GHz on the Celeron N2820 — a 15.8% clock advantage for the A4-3420 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.13 GHz). The A4-3420 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron N2820 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A4-3420 scores 1,067 against the Celeron N2820's 1,061 — a 0.6% lead for the A4-3420. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 300 vs 220, a 30.8% lead for the A4-3420 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 400 (22.2% advantage for the A4-3420). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A4-3420 | Celeron N2820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+17% | 2.39 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+31% | 2.13 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,067 | 1,061 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300+36% | 220 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 500+25% | 400 |
Memory & Platform
The A4-3420 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N2820 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the A4-3420 versus DDR3L-1066 on the Celeron N2820 — the A4-3420 supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A4-3420 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A4-3420) vs 4 (Celeron N2820) — the A4-3420 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X (A4-3420) and SoC (Celeron N2820).
| Feature | A4-3420 | Celeron N2820 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600+50% | DDR3L-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+300% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | No | No |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+300% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A4-3420) vs VT-x (Celeron N2820). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 6410D (A4-3420) and Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) (Celeron N2820) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-3420 targets Entry Desktop, Celeron N2820 targets Netbook. Direct competitor: A4-3420 rivals Pentium G630; Celeron N2820 rivals AMD A6-6310.
| Feature | A4-3420 | Celeron N2820 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6410D | Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Entry Desktop | Netbook |
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