A8-3800 vs Celeron 2955U

AMD

A8-3800

4 Cores4 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Celeron 2955U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.4 GHz2013
Similar parts
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A8-3800 vs Celeron 2955U 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.

A8-3800 vs Celeron 2955U 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.

A8-3800 vs Celeron 2955U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A8-3800

2011

Why buy it

  • Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.
  • 60% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 10) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Celeron 2955U.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,051 vs 2,069).
  • Launch MSRP is still $130 MSRP, while Celeron 2955U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Celeron 2955U

2013

Why buy it

  • +0.9% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

  • 687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike A8-3800.

Quick Answers

So, is A8-3800 better than Celeron 2955U?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A8-3800 is ahead with a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 2955U pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 2955U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
A8-3800 is the better buy right now. A8-3800 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $130 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Celeron 2955U is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.9% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (15.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron 2955U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A8-3800 vs Celeron 2955U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

A8-3800

The A8-3800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,051 points. Launch price was $90.

Intel

Celeron 2955U

The Celeron 2955U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,069 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The A8-3800 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron 2955U offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the A8-3800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the A8-3800 versus 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2955U — a 63.4% clock advantage for the A8-3800 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The A8-3800 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 2955U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A8-3800 scores 2,051 against the Celeron 2955U's 2,069 — a 0.9% lead for the Celeron 2955U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-3800 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2955U.

FeatureA8-3800Celeron 2955U
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.7 GHz+93%
1.4 GHz
Base Clock
2.4 GHz+71%
1.4 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
2 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)
256K (per core)+25500%
Process
32 nm
22 nm-31%
Architecture
Llano (2011−2012)
Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark
2,051
2,069
Geekbench 6 Single
370
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,350
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Memory & Platform

The A8-3800 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2955U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the A8-3800 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2955U — the A8-3800 supports 16.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A8-3800 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A8-3800) vs 10 (Celeron 2955U) — the A8-3800 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75 (A8-3800) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2955U).

FeatureA8-3800Celeron 2955U
Socket
FM1
FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866+17%
DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB+100%
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16+60%
10
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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A8-3800) vs VT-x (Celeron 2955U). Both include integrated graphics Radeon HD 6550D (A8-3800) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2955U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-3800 targets Budget Desktop, Celeron 2955U targets Budget. Direct competitor: A8-3800 rivals Core i3-2100; Celeron 2955U rivals Pentium 2117U.

FeatureA8-3800Celeron 2955U
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 6550D
HD Graphics (Haswell)
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x
Target Use
Budget Desktop
Budget