Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Celeron N3050

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Celeron N3050 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 3800+

2 / 2

1,095

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron N3050

2 / 2

1,099

+0.4%

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 X2 3800+ vs Celeron N3050 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 X2 3800+ vs Celeron N3050: 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 X2 3800+

2005

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,095 vs 1,099).
❌Launch MSRP is still $354 MSRP, while Celeron N3050 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1383.3% higher power demand at 89W vs 6W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron N3050 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron N3050

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 89W, a 83W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), while Athlon 64 X2 3800+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron N3050 better than Athlon 64 X2 3800+?

Yes. Celeron N3050 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.4% 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 N3050 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.3% 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 N3050 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron N3050 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Celeron N3050 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $354 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 64 X2 3800+ only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2005 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (3.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on 939.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron N3050 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2005) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ vs Celeron N3050 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 X2 3800+

The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,095 points. Launch price was $149.

Celeron N3050

The Celeron N3050 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Braswell (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.16 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,099 points. Launch price was $107.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ and Celeron N3050 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ versus 2.16 GHz on the Celeron N3050 — a 7.7% clock advantage for the Celeron N3050. The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the Manchester (2005−2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Celeron N3050 uses Braswell (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ scores 1,095 against the Celeron N3050's 1,099 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron N3050. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Celeron N3050
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2 GHz	2.16 GHz+8%
Base Clock	—	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	1 MB+100%
Process	90 nm	14 nm-84%
Architecture	Manchester (2005−2006)	Braswell (2015−2016)
PassMark	1,095	1,099
Geekbench 6 Single	—	221
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	440

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron N3050 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron N3050 — the Celeron N3050 supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) vs 4 (Celeron N3050) — the Celeron N3050 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) and Braswell SoC (Celeron N3050).

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 3800+	Celeron N3050
Socket	939	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800	DDR3L-1600+100%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	4

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 3800+) / VT-x / EPT (Celeron N3050). The Celeron N3050 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Braswell)), while the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron N3050 targets Netbook. Direct competitor: Celeron N3050 rivals AMD E2-7110.