Celeron 2955U vs Opteron 3250 HE

Intel

Celeron 2955U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.4 GHz2013
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Opteron 3250 HE

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2012
Similar parts
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Celeron 2955U vs Opteron 3250 HE Performance Spectrum

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.

Celeron 2955U vs Opteron 3250 HE 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.

Celeron 2955U vs Opteron 3250 HE: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Celeron 2955U

2013

Why buy it

  • +0.4% higher PassMark.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (10 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Haswell), while Opteron 3250 HE needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 4 MB).
  • Less compelling for workstation-style loads than Opteron 3250 HE, which brings 4 cores / 4 threads.
  • 1037.8% higher power demand at 512W vs 45W.

Opteron 3250 HE

2012

Why buy it

  • +100% larger total L3 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).
  • Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 4 cores / 4 threads.
  • Draws 45W instead of 512W, a 467W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (2,061 vs 2,069).
  • No integrated graphics, while Celeron 2955U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron 2955U better than Opteron 3250 HE?
Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 3250 HE makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Celeron 2955U is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 2955U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Celeron 2955U still makes the most sense overall. Celeron 2955U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.4% better PassMark.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron 2955U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2012) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron 2955U vs Opteron 3250 HE Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Celeron 2955U

The Celeron 2955U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,069 points. Launch price was $69.

AMD

Opteron 3250 HE

The Opteron 3250 HE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 March 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Zurich (2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: AM3+. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,061 points. Launch price was $99.

Processing Power

The Celeron 2955U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Opteron 3250 HE offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Opteron 3250 HE has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2955U versus 3.5 GHz on the Opteron 3250 HE — a 85.7% clock advantage for the Opteron 3250 HE (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). The Celeron 2955U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Opteron 3250 HE uses Zurich (2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2955U scores 2,069 against the Opteron 3250 HE's 2,061 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron 2955U. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2955U vs 4 MB (total) on the Opteron 3250 HE.

FeatureCeleron 2955UOpteron 3250 HE
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock
1.4 GHz
3.5 GHz+150%
Base Clock
1.4 GHz
2.5 GHz+79%
L3 Cache
2 MB (total)
4 MB (total)+100%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)+6300%
4 MB
Process
22 nm-31%
32 nm
Architecture
Haswell (2013−2015)
Zurich (2012)
PassMark
2,069
2,061
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Memory & Platform

The Celeron 2955U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Opteron 3250 HE uses AM3+ (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCeleron 2955UOpteron 3250 HE
Socket
FCBGA1168
AM3+
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
10
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron 2955U) / not specified (Opteron 3250 HE). The Celeron 2955U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Opteron 3250 HE requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2955U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2955U rivals Pentium 2117U.

FeatureCeleron 2955UOpteron 3250 HE
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics (Haswell)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x
Target Use
Budget