Athlon 3000G vs Celeron G6900

AMD

Athlon 3000G

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2019
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Celeron G6900

2 Cores2 Thrd46 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2022
Similar parts
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Athlon 3000G vs Celeron G6900 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.

Athlon 3000G vs Celeron G6900 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.

Athlon 3000G vs Celeron G6900: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 3000G

2019

Why buy it

  • Costs $3 less on MSRP ($49 MSRP vs $52 MSRP).
  • Draws 35W instead of 46W, a 11W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Celeron G6900.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (956 vs 1,563).
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (1,970 vs 2,631).
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Celeron G6900 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Celeron G6900

2022

Why buy it

  • +63.5% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • 25% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • 6.1% HIGHER MSRP
    $52 MSRPvs$49 MSRP
  • 31.4% higher power demand at 46W vs 35W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 3000G.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G6900 better than Athlon 3000G?
Yes. Celeron G6900 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 33.6% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.3% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Celeron G6900 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G6900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 33.6% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Celeron G6900 is still the better call for a fresh build. Celeron G6900 comes in 6.1% more expensive on MSRP at $52 MSRP versus $49 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 3000G only looks stronger on raw value math because it is so cheap, but its absolute performance tier is too low to be the better recommendation now. At roughly 4,446 PassMark with 2 cores and 4 threads, it only really makes sense as a bare-minimum stopgap or a very constrained existing-platform upgrade.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron G6900 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Athlon 3000G vs Celeron G6900 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon 3000G

The Athlon 3000G is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 November 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,446 points. Launch price was $49.

Intel

Celeron G6900

The Celeron G6900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 46 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 4,458 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Athlon 3000G packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G6900's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 3000G versus 3.4 GHz on the Celeron G6900 — a 2.9% clock advantage for the Athlon 3000G (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Athlon 3000G uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Celeron G6900 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 3000G scores 4,446 against the Celeron G6900's 4,458 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron G6900. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 956 vs 1,563, a 48.2% lead for the Celeron G6900 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,970 vs 2,631 (28.7% advantage for the Celeron G6900). Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon 3000GCeleron G6900
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.5 GHz+3%
3.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+3%
3.4 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
4 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+40860%
1.25 MB (per core)
Process
14 nm
Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture
Zen+ (2018−2019)
Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark
4,446
4,458
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,800
Geekbench 6 Single
956
1,563+63%
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,970
2,631+34%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 3000G uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron G6900 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2666 on the Athlon 3000G versus DDR5-4800 on the Celeron G6900 — the Celeron G6900 supports 80% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G6900 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon 3000G) vs 20 (Celeron G6900) — the Celeron G6900 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM4 (Athlon 3000G) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Celeron G6900).

FeatureAthlon 3000GCeleron G6900
Socket
AM4
LGA1700
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
2666
DDR5-4800+80%
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
128 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
No
PCIe Lanes
16
20+25%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 3000G has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: true (Athlon 3000G) vs VT-x (Celeron G6900). Both include integrated graphics Radeon Vega 3 Graphics (Athlon 3000G) and UHD Graphics 710 (Celeron G6900) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G6900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon 3000G rivals Pentium Gold G6400; Celeron G6900 rivals Pentium Gold G7400.

FeatureAthlon 3000GCeleron G6900
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon Vega 3 Graphics
UHD Graphics 710
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
VT-x
Target Use
Budget
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 3000G was priced at $49, while the Celeron G6900 came in at $52. On launch pricing ($49 vs $52), Athlon 3000G was $3 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 3000G delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 85.7 pts/$ for the Celeron G6900 — making the Athlon 3000G the 5.7% better value option.

FeatureAthlon 3000GCeleron G6900
MSRP
$49-6%
$52
Performance per Dollar
90.7+6%
85.7
Release Date
2019
2022

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