Celeron 3955U vs Phenom II X3 700e
Celeron 3955U
Phenom II X3 700e
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 Phenom II X3 700e is on rank 972, 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 Phenom II X3 700e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 3955U | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Heka (2009−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 3955U | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 Phenom II X3 700e
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.
Phenom II X3 700e
The Phenom II X3 700e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Heka (2009−2010) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,451 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Celeron 3955U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X3 700e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Phenom II X3 700e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Celeron 3955U versus 2.4 GHz on the Phenom II X3 700e — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Phenom II X3 700e (base: 2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Celeron 3955U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Phenom II X3 700e uses Heka (2009−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 3955U scores 1,443 against the Phenom II X3 700e's 1,451 — a 0.6% lead for the Phenom II X3 700e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 431 vs 250, a 53.2% lead for the Celeron 3955U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 741 vs 650 (13.1% advantage for the Celeron 3955U). L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 3955U vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X3 700e.
| Feature | Celeron 3955U | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 6 MB (total)+200% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Heka (2009−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,443 | 1,451 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 431+72% | 250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 741+14% | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 3955U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Phenom II X3 700e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Celeron 3955U versus DDR3-1333 on the Phenom II X3 700e — the Celeron 3955U supports 28.6% 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 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Celeron 3955U) vs 16 (Phenom II X3 700e) — the Phenom II X3 700e offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Sunrise Point-LP (Celeron 3955U) and AM3,AM2+ (Phenom II X3 700e).
| Feature | Celeron 3955U | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Only the Phenom II X3 700e has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Celeron 3955U) vs AMD-V (Phenom II X3 700e). The Celeron 3955U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 510), while the Phenom II X3 700e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 3955U targets Budget, Phenom II X3 700e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron 3955U rivals Pentium 3825U.
| Feature | Celeron 3955U | Phenom II X3 700e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 510 | None |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Legacy Desktop |
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