
Athlon II X3 450

Celeron G3900TE
Athlon II X3 450 vs Celeron G3900TE 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 X3 450 vs Celeron G3900TE 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.

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Valorant

Among Us

Apex Legends

ARC Raiders

Baldur's Gate 3

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Athlon II X3 450 vs Celeron G3900TE: 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 X3 450
2010Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +4.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Includes a boxed cooler (AMD Stock), unlike Celeron G3900TE.
Trade-offs
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 21.4 vs 44.0 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $42 MSRP).
- ❌171.4% higher power demand at 95W vs 35W.
- ❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron G3900TE can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.
Celeron G3900TE
2015Why buy it
- ✅Costs $45 less on MSRP ($42 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 105.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 44.0 vs 21.4 PassMark/$ ($42 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 35W instead of 95W, a 60W reduction.
- ✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 510, while Athlon II X3 450 needs a discrete GPU.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X3 450 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (903 vs 980).
- ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X3 450.
Quick Answers
So, is Athlon II X3 450 better than Celeron G3900TE?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon II X3 450 vs Celeron G3900TE Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon II X3 450
The Athlon II X3 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,865 points. Launch price was $45.

Celeron G3900TE
The Celeron G3900TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,850 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X3 450 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Celeron G3900TE offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X3 450 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X3 450 versus 2.3 GHz on the Celeron G3900TE — a 32.7% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 450. The Athlon II X3 450 uses the Rana (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G3900TE uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X3 450 scores 1,865 against the Celeron G3900TE's 1,850 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X3 450. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 380 vs 514, a 30% lead for the Celeron G3900TE that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 980 vs 903 (8.2% advantage for the Athlon II X3 450). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 450 vs 2 MB on the Celeron G3900TE.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Celeron G3900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+39% | 2.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Rana (2009−2011) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,865 | 1,850 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 380 | 514+35% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 980+9% | 903 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X3 450 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G3900TE uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X3 450 versus DDR4-2133 on the Celeron G3900TE — the Celeron G3900TE supports 60% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3900TE supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,790GX,880G,970,990FX (Athlon II X3 450) and H110,Q170 (Celeron G3900TE).
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Celeron G3900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-2133+60% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | No | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X3 450) vs VT-x, VT-d (Celeron G3900TE). The Celeron G3900TE includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 510), while the Athlon II X3 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X3 450 targets Desktop, Celeron G3900TE targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900TE rivals Pentium G4400T.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Celeron G3900TE |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Desktop | Embedded |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Athlon II X3 450 was priced at $87, while the Celeron G3900TE came in at $42. On launch pricing ($87 vs $42), Celeron G3900TE was $45 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X3 450 delivers 21.4 pts/$ vs 44.0 pts/$ for the Celeron G3900TE — making the Celeron G3900TE the 69.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X3 450 | Celeron G3900TE |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87 | $42-52% |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.4 | 44.0+106% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2015 |
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