Athlon II X4 638 vs Celeron J3455

Athlon II X4 638 vs Celeron J3455 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 638

4 / 4

2,260

+0.6%

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 638 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 638 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 638

2012

Why buy it

✅166.7% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 6) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $300 MSRP, while Celeron J3455 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌550% higher power demand at 65W vs 10W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron J3455 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron J3455

2016

Why buy it

✅Draws 10W instead of 65W, a 55W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 500, while Athlon II X4 638 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,247 vs 2,260).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 638 better than Celeron J3455?

Yes. Athlon II X4 638 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 29 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X4 638 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.3% more average FPS across 29 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 638 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon II X4 638 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 638 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $300 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 29 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 J3455 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 638 vs Celeron J3455 Technical Specifications

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

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 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.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X4 638 and Celeron J3455 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 versus 2.3 GHz on the Celeron J3455 — a 16% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 638 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Athlon II X4 638 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron J3455 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 638 scores 2,260 against the Celeron J3455's 2,247 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Celeron J3455
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	4 / 4
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz+17%	2.3 GHz
Base Clock	2.7 GHz+80%	1.5 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB (per core)	2 MB+100%
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Llano (2011−2012)	Apollo Lake (2014−2016)
PassMark	2,260	2,247
Geekbench 6 Single	—	450
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	850

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 638 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron J3455 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron J3455 — the Celeron J3455 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 638 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 638) vs 6 (Celeron J3455) — the Athlon II X4 638 offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638) and N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3455).

Feature	Athlon II X4 638	Celeron J3455
Socket	FM1	FCBGA1296
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	DDR4-2400+29%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+700%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+167%	6

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon II X4 638) / VT-x (Celeron J3455). The Celeron J3455 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 500), while the Athlon II X4 638 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3455 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron J3455 rivals Pentium J4205.