Athlon 64 3800+ vs Celeron B720

CPU

GPU

Athlon 64 3800+

1 Cores1 Thrd89 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2004

Similar parts

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Celeron B720

1 Cores1 Thrd0 WWMax: 1.7 GHz2012

Similar parts

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Athlon 64 3800+ vs Celeron B720 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 3800+

1 / 1

648

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron B720

1 / 1

665

+2.6%

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 64 3800+ vs Celeron B720 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 64 3800+ vs Celeron B720: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon 64 3800+

2004

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Celeron B720 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (648 vs 665).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.8 vs 9.5 PassMark/$ ($354 MSRP vs $70 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron B720 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron B720

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Costs $284 less on MSRP ($70 MSRP vs $354 MSRP).
✅Delivers 419.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 9.5 vs 1.8 PassMark/$ ($70 MSRP vs $354 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), while Athlon 64 3800+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron B720 better than Athlon 64 3800+?

Yes. Celeron B720 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 2.6% better 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 B720 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.4% 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 B720 is the stronger fit. You are getting 2.6% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Celeron B720 is the better buy right now. Celeron B720 comes in $284 cheaper on MSRP at $70 MSRP versus $354 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 419.0% better value on MSRP (9.5 vs 1.8 PassMark/$), 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 B720 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2004) and more multi-core headroom with 1 cores / 1 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 64 3800+ vs Celeron B720 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 3800+

The Athlon 64 3800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Junho 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the Venice (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 648 points. Launch price was $160.

Celeron B720

The Celeron B720 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: G2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 665 points. Launch price was $70.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon 64 3800+ and Celeron B720 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3800+ versus 1.7 GHz on the Celeron B720 — a 34.1% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 3800+. The Athlon 64 3800+ uses the Venice (2004−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Celeron B720 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3800+ scores 648 against the Celeron B720's 665 — a 2.6% lead for the Celeron B720. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 3800+ vs 1.5 MB (total) on the Celeron B720.

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Celeron B720
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	1 / 1
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz+41%	1.7 GHz
Base Clock	—	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	1.5 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	130 nm	32 nm-75%
Architecture	Venice (2004−2005)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	648	665+3%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 3800+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron B720 uses G2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 3800+ versus DDR3-1333 on the Celeron B720 — the Celeron B720 supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3800+) vs 16 (Celeron B720) — the Celeron B720 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 3800+) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QM77 (Celeron B720).

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Celeron B720
Socket	939	G2
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR3-1333+67%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 3800+) / VT-x (Celeron B720). The Celeron B720 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon 64 3800+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron B720 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron B720 rivals Pentium 967.

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Celeron B720
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	VT-x
Target Use	—	Budget

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 3800+ was priced at $354, while the Celeron B720 came in at $70. On launch pricing ($354 vs $70), Celeron B720 was $284 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 3800+ delivers 1.8 pts/$ vs 9.5 pts/$ for the Celeron B720 — making the Celeron B720 the 135.4% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Celeron B720
MSRP	$354	$70-80%
Performance per Dollar	1.8	9.5+428%
Release Date	2004	2012

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