CPU
GPU
Celeron 3965Y
Athlon II X2 255
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 3965Y is positioned at rank 198 and the Athlon II X2 255 is on rank 793, so the Celeron 3965Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 3965Y
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 255
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 3965Y | Athlon II X2 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 3965Y | Athlon II X2 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 3965Y and Athlon II X2 255
Celeron 3965Y
The Celeron 3965Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1515. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,201 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X2 255
The Athlon II X2 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $60.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron 3965Y and Athlon II X2 255 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.3 GHz on the Celeron 3965Y versus 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X2 255 — a 81.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 255 (base: 1.5 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Celeron 3965Y uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon II X2 255 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 3965Y scores 1,201 against the Athlon II X2 255's 1,210 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X2 255. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 372 vs 265, a 33.6% lead for the Celeron 3965Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 708 vs 500 (34.4% advantage for the Celeron 3965Y). L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 3965Y vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 255.
| Feature | Celeron 3965Y | Athlon II X2 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.3 GHz | 3.1 GHz+138% |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 3.1 GHz+107% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 14 nm-69% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,201 | 1,210 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 372+40% | 265 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 708+42% | 500 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 3965Y uses the FCBGA1515 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X2 255 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to LPDDR3-1866 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 10 (Celeron 3965Y) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 255) — the Celeron 3965Y offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Celeron 3965Y) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX,870,880G,890GX,890FX (Athlon II X2 255).
| Feature | Celeron 3965Y | Athlon II X2 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1515 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Celeron 3965Y) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 255). The Celeron 3965Y includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 615), while the Athlon II X2 255 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 3965Y targets Low Power, Athlon II X2 255 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron 3965Y rivals Pentium Gold 4415Y; Athlon II X2 255 rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Celeron 3965Y | Athlon II X2 255 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 615 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Low Power | Legacy Desktop |
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