Celeron 3955U vs Phenom II X3 700e

CPU

GPU

Celeron 3955U

2 Cores2 Thrd15 WWMax: 2 GHz2015

Similar parts

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Phenom II X3 700e

3 Cores3 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Celeron 3955U vs Phenom II X3 700e Performance Spectrum

Celeron 3955U

2 / 2

1,443

0.0%

Celeron 877

Celeron P4600

Xeon W3503

Pentium Dual Core T4400

1,451

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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 3955U vs Phenom II X3 700e 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 3955U vs Phenom II X3 700e: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron 3955U

2015

Why buy it

✅+72.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 510, while Phenom II X3 700e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 6 MB).

Phenom II X3 700e

2009

Why buy it

✅+200% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 2 MB).
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (250 vs 431).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (650 vs 741).
❌Launch MSRP is still $125 MSRP, while Celeron 3955U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron 3955U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron 3955U better than Phenom II X3 700e?

Yes. Celeron 3955U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 14% better Geekbench multi-core, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Celeron 3955U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 3955U is the stronger fit. You are getting 14% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron 3955U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Celeron 3955U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $125 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Phenom II X3 700e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (11.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron 3955U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron 3955U vs Phenom II X3 700e Technical Specifications

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

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.

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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

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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 60% 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 — 100% 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+60%	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	32 GB+100%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	12	16+33%

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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.