Celeron 2957U vs Pentium G3258

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 2957U vs Pentium G3258 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 2957U vs Pentium G3258: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron 2957U

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 3 MB).
❌848.1% higher power demand at 512W vs 54W.

Pentium G3258

2014

Why buy it

✅+50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).
✅Draws 54W instead of 512W, a 458W reduction.
✅60% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 10) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,063 vs 2,077).
❌Launch MSRP is still $75 MSRP, while Celeron 2957U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium G3258 better than Celeron 2957U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Pentium G3258 is ahead with a 1.3% average FPS lead across 36 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 2957U pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark. Pentium G3258 also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 2957U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium G3258 is the better buy right now. Pentium G3258 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $75 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.3% average FPS lead across 36 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Celeron 2957U is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.7% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (27.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 2957U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron 2957U vs Pentium G3258 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Pentium G3258

The Pentium G3258 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 June 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,063 points. Launch price was $77.

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Processing Power

Both the Celeron 2957U and Pentium G3258 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2957U versus 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3258 — a 78.3% clock advantage for the Pentium G3258 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). Both are built on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture using a 22 nm process. In PassMark, the Celeron 2957U scores 2,077 against the Pentium G3258's 2,063 — a 0.7% lead for the Celeron 2957U. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2957U vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3258.

Feature	Celeron 2957U	Pentium G3258
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.4 GHz	3.2 GHz+129%
Base Clock	1.4 GHz	3.2 GHz+129%
L3 Cache	2 MB	3 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256 kB (per core)
Process	22 nm	22 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	2,077	2,063
Geekbench 6 Single	284	—

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Memory & Platform

The Celeron 2957U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium G3258 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2957U versus DDR3-1333 on the Pentium G3258 — the Celeron 2957U supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium G3258 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 10 (Celeron 2957U) vs 16 (Pentium G3258) — the Pentium G3258 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Celeron 2957U	Pentium G3258
Socket	FCBGA1168	LGA1150
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600+20%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	10	16+60%

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Advanced Features

Only the Pentium G3258 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2957U) and HD Graphics (Pentium G3258) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2957U targets Budget, Pentium G3258 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron 2957U rivals Pentium 2117U.