Celeron 847 vs Core i3-4012Y

Intel

Celeron 847

2 Cores2 Thrd17 WWMax: 1.1 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i3-4012Y

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.5 GHz2013
Similar parts
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Celeron 847 vs Core i3-4012Y Performance Spectrum

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 847 vs Core i3-4012Y 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 847 vs Core i3-4012Y: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron 847

2011

Why buy it

  • Draws 17W instead of 512W, a 495W reduction.
  • 33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (196 vs 485).
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (354 vs 988).
  • Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 3 MB).
  • Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while Core i3-4012Y mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i3-4012Y

2013

Why buy it

  • +147.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • +50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

Trade-offs

  • 2911.8% higher power demand at 512W vs 17W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-4012Y better than Celeron 847?
Yes. Core i3-4012Y 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, 179.1% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.6% higher PassMark, 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, Core i3-4012Y 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, Core i3-4012Y is the stronger fit. You are getting 179.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Core i3-4012Y is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core i3-4012Y comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Celeron 847 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Core i3-4012Y makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2011), 50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron 847 vs Core i3-4012Y Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Celeron 847

The Celeron 847 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 1.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,270 points. Launch price was $134.

Intel

Core i3-4012Y

The Core i3-4012Y 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: 1,278 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Celeron 847 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-4012Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.1 GHz on the Celeron 847 versus 1.5 GHz on the Core i3-4012Y — a 30.8% clock advantage for the Core i3-4012Y (base: 1.1 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Celeron 847 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-4012Y uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 847 scores 1,270 against the Core i3-4012Y's 1,278 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-4012Y. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 196 vs 485, a 84.9% lead for the Core i3-4012Y that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 354 vs 988 (94.5% advantage for the Core i3-4012Y). L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 847 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-4012Y.

FeatureCeleron 847Core i3-4012Y
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
1.1 GHz
1.5 GHz+36%
Base Clock
1.1 GHz
1.5 GHz+36%
L3 Cache
2 MB (total)
3 MB+50%
L2 Cache
256K (per core)
512 kB+100%
Process
32 nm
22 nm-31%
Architecture
Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark
1,270
1,278
Geekbench 6 Single
196
485+147%
Geekbench 6 Multi
354
988+179%
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Memory & Platform

The Celeron 847 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-4012Y uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Celeron 847 versus DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600 on the Core i3-4012Y — the Core i3-4012Y supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron 847) vs 12 (Core i3-4012Y) — the Celeron 847 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67 (Celeron 847) and HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i3-4012Y).

FeatureCeleron 847Core i3-4012Y
Socket
BGA1023
FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
DDR3L-1600 / LPDDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16+33%
12
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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 847) vs VT-x / EPT (Core i3-4012Y). Both include integrated graphics HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Celeron 847) and Intel HD Graphics 4200 (Core i3-4012Y) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 847 targets Budget, Core i3-4012Y targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron 847 rivals Pentium 967.

FeatureCeleron 847Core i3-4012Y
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
Intel HD Graphics 4200
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
VT-x
VT-x / EPT
Target Use
Budget
Low Power