Celeron 3955U vs Core i3-4020Y
Celeron 3955U
Core i3-4020Y
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 3955U is positioned at rank 616 and the Core i3-4020Y is on rank 716, so the Celeron 3955U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 3955U
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-4020Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 3955U | Core i3-4020Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 3955U | Core i3-4020Y |
|---|---|---|
| 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 3955U and Core i3-4020Y
Celeron 3955U
The Celeron 3955U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, LPDDR3-1600/1866, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,443 points. Launch price was $107.
Core i3-4020Y
The Core i3-4020Y 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,448 points. Launch price was $304.
Processing Power
The Celeron 3955U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-4020Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Celeron 3955U versus 1.5 GHz on the Core i3-4020Y — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Celeron 3955U (base: 2 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Celeron 3955U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-4020Y uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 3955U scores 1,443 against the Core i3-4020Y's 1,448 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-4020Y. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 3955U vs 3 MB on the Core i3-4020Y.
| Feature | Celeron 3955U | Core i3-4020Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+33% | 1.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+33% | 1.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 3 MB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,443 | 1,448 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 431 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 741 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 3955U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-4020Y uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Celeron 3955U versus 1600 on the Core i3-4020Y — the Core i3-4020Y supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 3955U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 12 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Sunrise Point-LP (Celeron 3955U) and BGA1168 (Core i3-4020Y).
| Feature | Celeron 3955U | Core i3-4020Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | 1600+39900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+209715100% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Celeron 3955U) vs true (Core i3-4020Y). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 510 (Celeron 3955U) and Intel HD Graphics 4200 (Core i3-4020Y) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 3955U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 3955U rivals Pentium 3825U.
| Feature | Celeron 3955U | Core i3-4020Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 510 | Intel HD Graphics 4200 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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