Athlon II X4 635 vs Celeron J3455

Athlon II X4 635 vs Celeron J3455 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 635

4 / 4

2,248

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron J3455

4 / 4

2,247

0.0%

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 X4 635 vs Celeron J3455 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 X4 635 vs Celeron J3455: 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 X4 635

2010

Why buy it

✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 6) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Celeron J3455.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (180 vs 450).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (550 vs 850).
❌Launch MSRP is still $400 MSRP, while Celeron J3455 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌850% higher power demand at 95W vs 10W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron J3455 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron J3455

2016

Why buy it

✅+150% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 10W instead of 95W, a 85W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 500, while Athlon II X4 635 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 635.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron J3455 better than Athlon II X4 635?

Yes. Celeron J3455 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 21 shared CPU game tests in our data, 54.5% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 J3455 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 21 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron J3455 is the stronger fit. You are getting 54.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Celeron J3455 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Celeron J3455 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $400 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 21 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X4 635 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (5.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 J3455 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 635 vs Celeron J3455 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X4 635

The Athlon II X4 635 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 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: 2,248 points. Launch price was $70.

Celeron J3455

The Celeron J3455 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 2,247 points. Launch price was $107.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 635 and Celeron J3455 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X4 635 versus 2.3 GHz on the Celeron J3455 — a 23.1% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 635 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Athlon II X4 635 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron J3455 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 635 scores 2,248 against the Celeron J3455's 2,247 — a 0% lead for the Athlon II X4 635. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 180 vs 450, a 85.7% lead for the Celeron J3455 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 550 vs 850 (42.9% advantage for the Celeron J3455). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Celeron J3455
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz+26%	2.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.9 GHz+93%	1.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	2 MB+300%
Process	45 nm	14 nm-69%
Architecture	Propus (2009−2011)	Apollo Lake (2014−2016)
PassMark	2,248	2,247
Cinebench R23 Multi	658	—
Geekbench 6 Single	180	450+150%
Geekbench 6 Multi	550	850+55%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 635 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron J3455 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 / DDR2-1066 on the Athlon II X4 635 versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron J3455 — the Celeron J3455 supports 80% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 635 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: 16 (Athlon II X4 635) vs 6 (Celeron J3455) — the Athlon II X4 635 offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD 770,785G,790FX,880G,890FX,970,990FX (Athlon II X4 635) and N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3455).

Feature	Athlon II X4 635	Celeron J3455
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1296
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333 / DDR2-1066	DDR4-2400+80%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+167%	6

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon II X4 635 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 635) vs VT-x (Celeron J3455). The Celeron J3455 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 500), while the Athlon II X4 635 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 635 targets Budget, Celeron J3455 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron J3455 rivals Pentium J4205.