Celeron 2950M vs Core i3-3217U
Celeron 2950M
Core i3-3217U
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 Celeron 2950M is positioned at rank 545 and the Core i3-3217U is on rank 684, so the Celeron 2950M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2950M
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3217U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2950M | Core i3-3217U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2950M | Core i3-3217U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Celeron 2950M and Core i3-3217U
Celeron 2950M
The Celeron 2950M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,238 points. Launch price was $75.
Core i3-3217U
The Core i3-3217U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,226 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2950M packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3217U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Celeron 2950M versus 1.8 GHz on the Core i3-3217U — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Celeron 2950M (base: 2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Celeron 2950M uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-3217U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2950M scores 1,238 against the Core i3-3217U's 1,226 — a 1% lead for the Celeron 2950M. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2950M vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3217U.
| Feature | Celeron 2950M | Core i3-3217U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+11% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+11% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,238 | 1,226 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 352 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 636 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2950M uses the PGA946 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-3217U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2950M versus 1600 on the Core i3-3217U — the Core i3-3217U supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM87,HM86 (Celeron 2950M) and HM76,UM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i3-3217U).
| Feature | Celeron 2950M | Core i3-3217U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA946 | BGA1023 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | 1600+53233% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+104857500% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 2950M) vs true (Core i3-3217U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2950M) and Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3217U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2950M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2950M rivals Pentium 2020M; Core i3-3217U rivals AMD A6-4455M.
| Feature | Celeron 2950M | Core i3-3217U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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