Athlon II X4 638 vs Celeron G3930
Athlon II X4 638
Celeron G3930
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X4 638 is positioned at rank 1040 and the Celeron G3930 is on rank 395, so the Celeron G3930 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3930
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 638 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1020%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) | ✅ More affordable ($25) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 638 and Celeron G3930
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron G3930
The Celeron G3930 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 2133, DDR3L 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,259 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 638 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron G3930 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 2.9 GHz on the Celeron G3930 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Celeron G3930 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.9 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G3930 uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Celeron G3930's 2,259 — a 0% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3930.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz | 2.9 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,260 | 2,259 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 750 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,100 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G3930 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron G3930 — the Celeron G3930 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638) and H110,B250,H270,Z270 (Celeron G3930).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 638) / VT-x (Celeron G3930). The Celeron G3930 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 610), while the Athlon II X4 638 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3930 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3930 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X4 638 launched at $300 MSRP, while the Celeron G3930 debuted at $42. At current prices ($280 vs $25), the Celeron G3930 is $255 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X4 638 delivers 8.1 pts/$ vs 90.4 pts/$ for the Celeron G3930 — making the Celeron G3930 the 167.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 638 | Celeron G3930 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $300 | $42-86% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $280 | $25-91% |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.1 | 90.4+1016% |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2017 |
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