CPU
GPU
Athlon X2 L310
Celeron 3965U
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 X2 L310 is positioned at rank 933 and the Celeron 3965U is on rank 265, so the Celeron 3965U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 L310
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 3965U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 L310 | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conesus (2009) / 65 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-U (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 L310 | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 X2 L310 and Celeron 3965U
Athlon X2 L310
The Athlon X2 L310 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Conesus (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,747 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron 3965U
The Celeron 3965U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-U (2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,753 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X2 L310 and Celeron 3965U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 L310 versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron 3965U — a 58.8% clock advantage for the Celeron 3965U. The Athlon X2 L310 uses the Conesus (2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Celeron 3965U uses Kaby Lake-U (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 L310 scores 1,747 against the Celeron 3965U's 1,753 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron 3965U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 120 vs 600, a 133.3% lead for the Celeron 3965U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 213 vs 1,200 (139.7% advantage for the Celeron 3965U).
| Feature | Athlon X2 L310 | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 2.2 GHz+83% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 14 nm-78% |
| Architecture | Conesus (2009) | Kaby Lake-U (2017) |
| PassMark | 1,747 | 1,753 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 120 | 600+400% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 213 | 1,200+463% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 L310 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 3965U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 L310 versus DDR4-2133 on the Celeron 3965U — the Celeron 3965U supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 3965U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon X2 L310) vs 10 (Celeron 3965U) — the Celeron 3965U offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Socket S1 (Athlon X2 L310) and SoC (Celeron 3965U).
| Feature | Athlon X2 L310 | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR4-2133+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 32 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 10 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: Yes (Athlon X2 L310) vs VT-x (Celeron 3965U). The Celeron 3965U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 610), while the Athlon X2 L310 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X2 L310 targets Mobile, Celeron 3965U targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Celeron 3965U rivals Pentium Gold 4415U.
| Feature | Athlon X2 L310 | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x |
| Target Use | Mobile | Budget Laptop |
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