Athlon II Neo K325 vs Celeron N3050

AMD

Athlon II Neo K325

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 1.3 GHz2010
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Celeron N3050

2 Cores2 Thrd6 WWMax: 2.16 GHz2015
Similar parts
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Athlon II Neo K325 vs Celeron N3050 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 II Neo K325 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 II Neo K325 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 II Neo K325

2010

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +3.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 1W instead of 6W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while Celeron N3050 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • No integrated graphics, while Celeron N3050 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron N3050

2015

Why buy it

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), while Athlon II Neo K325 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II Neo K325 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (440 vs 1,235).
  • 500% higher power demand at 6W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II Neo K325 better than Celeron N3050?
Yes. Athlon II Neo K325 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 3.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 180.7% better Geekbench multi-core, and 1.1% higher PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon II Neo K325 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 3.8% 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, Athlon II Neo K325 is the stronger fit. You are getting 180.7% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II Neo K325 is the better buy right now. Athlon II Neo K325 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $60 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (18.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 N3050 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II Neo K325 vs Celeron N3050 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II Neo K325

The Athlon II Neo K325 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Geneva (2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,111 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

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.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II Neo K325 and Celeron N3050 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.3 GHz on the Athlon II Neo K325 versus 2.16 GHz on the Celeron N3050 — a 49.7% clock advantage for the Celeron N3050. The Athlon II Neo K325 uses the Geneva (2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N3050 uses Braswell (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II Neo K325 scores 1,111 against the Celeron N3050's 1,099 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon II Neo K325. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 736 vs 221, a 107.6% lead for the Athlon II Neo K325 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,235 vs 440 (94.9% advantage for the Athlon II Neo K325).

FeatureAthlon II Neo K325Celeron N3050
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
1.3 GHz
2.16 GHz+66%
Base Clock
1.6 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB
1 MB
Process
45 nm
14 nm-69%
Architecture
Geneva (2010)
Braswell (2015−2016)
PassMark
1,111+1%
1,099
Geekbench 6 Single
736+233%
221
Geekbench 6 Multi
1,235+181%
440
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II Neo K325 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N3050 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-800 on the Athlon II Neo K325 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron N3050 — the Celeron N3050 supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II Neo K325) vs 4 (Celeron N3050) — the Celeron N3050 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: M880G (Athlon II Neo K325) and Braswell SoC (Celeron N3050).

FeatureAthlon II Neo K325Celeron N3050
Socket
S1
FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-800
DDR3L-1600+100%
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
0
4
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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II Neo K325) vs VT-x / EPT (Celeron N3050). The Celeron N3050 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Braswell)), while the Athlon II Neo K325 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II Neo K325 targets Low Power, Celeron N3050 targets Netbook. Direct competitor: Celeron N3050 rivals AMD E2-7110.

FeatureAthlon II Neo K325Celeron N3050
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell)
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x / EPT
Target Use
Low Power
Netbook