CPU
GPU
Celeron 2957U
Core i3-2125
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 2957U is positioned at rank 53 and the Core i3-2125 is on rank 892, so the Celeron 2957U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2957U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2125
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2957U | Core i3-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2957U | Core i3-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 2957U and Core i3-2125
Celeron 2957U
The Celeron 2957U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2014 (11 years ago). 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. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,077 points. Launch price was $107.
Core i3-2125
The Core i3-2125 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.3 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,082 points. Launch price was $170.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2957U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2125's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2957U versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i3-2125 — a 80.9% clock advantage for the Core i3-2125 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 3.3 GHz). The Celeron 2957U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core i3-2125 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2957U scores 2,077 against the Core i3-2125's 2,082 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-2125. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 284 vs 499, a 54.9% lead for the Core i3-2125 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2957U vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2125.
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core i3-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 3.3 GHz+136% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 3.3 GHz+136% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,077 | 2,082 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 284 | 499+76% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2957U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-2125 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. The Core i3-2125 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 10 (Celeron 2957U) vs 16 (Core i3-2125) — the Core i3-2125 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2957U) and H61,H67,P67,Z68,B65,Q65,Q67,B75,Q75,H77,Z75,Z77 (Core i3-2125).
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core i3-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | 16+60% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 2957U) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i3-2125). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2957U) and HD Graphics 3000 (Core i3-2125) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2957U targets Budget, Core i3-2125 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron 2957U rivals Pentium 2117U; Core i3-2125 rivals A8-3850.
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core i3-2125 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | HD Graphics 3000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget Desktop |
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