Athlon II X2 255 vs Celeron 3855U

Athlon II X2 255 vs Celeron 3855U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 255

2 / 2

1,210

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron 3855U

2 / 2

1,215

+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 II X2 255 vs Celeron 3855U 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 X2 255 vs Celeron 3855U: 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 X2 255

2010

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Celeron 3855U.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (265 vs 361).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (500 vs 632).
❌Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while Celeron 3855U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron 3855U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron 3855U

2015

Why buy it

✅+36.2% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (10 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 510, while Athlon II X2 255 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 255.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron 3855U better than Athlon II X2 255?

Yes. Celeron 3855U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 26.4% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.4% 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 3855U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.9% 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 3855U is the stronger fit. You are getting 26.4% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron 3855U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Celeron 3855U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X2 255 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (20.2 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Celeron 3855U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2010) 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 II X2 255 vs Celeron 3855U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 255

The Athlon II X2 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $60.

Celeron 3855U

The Celeron 3855U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, LPDDR3-1600/1866, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,215 points. Launch price was $107.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 255 and Celeron 3855U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X2 255 versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 3855U — a 63.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 255 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon II X2 255 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 3855U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 255 scores 1,210 against the Celeron 3855U's 1,215 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron 3855U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 265 vs 361, a 30.7% lead for the Celeron 3855U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 632 (23.3% advantage for the Celeron 3855U). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 255 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 3855U.

Feature	Athlon II X2 255	Celeron 3855U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz+94%	1.6 GHz
Base Clock	3.1 GHz+94%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	1,210	1,215
Geekbench 6 Single	265	361+36%
Geekbench 6 Multi	500	632+26%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 255 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 3855U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 255 versus DDR4 2133 MHz on the Celeron 3855U — the Celeron 3855U supports 60% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 3855U 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: 0 (Athlon II X2 255) vs 10 (Celeron 3855U) — the Celeron 3855U offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,785G,790GX,870,880G,890GX,890FX (Athlon II X2 255) and FCBGA1356 (Celeron 3855U).

Feature	Athlon II X2 255	Celeron 3855U
Socket	AM3	BGA1356
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR4 2133 MHz+60%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	0	10

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 255) vs true (Celeron 3855U). The Celeron 3855U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 510), while the Athlon II X2 255 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 255 targets Legacy Desktop, Celeron 3855U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 255 rivals Pentium E5700; Celeron 3855U rivals Pentium 3825U.