Celeron B840 vs A4-3420
Celeron B840
A4-3420
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 B840 is positioned at rank 1028 and the A4-3420 is on rank 875, so the A4-3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron B840
Performance Per Dollar A4-3420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron B840 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron B840 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+100%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 B840 and A4-3420
Celeron B840
The Celeron B840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,065 points. Launch price was $86.
A4-3420
The A4-3420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,067 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron B840 and A4-3420 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Celeron B840 versus 2.8 GHz on the A4-3420 — a 38.3% clock advantage for the A4-3420 (base: 1.9 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Celeron B840 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-3420 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron B840 scores 1,065 against the A4-3420's 1,067 — a 0.2% lead for the A4-3420. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 450 vs 300, a 40% lead for the Celeron B840 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 790 vs 500 (45% advantage for the Celeron B840). L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron B840 vs 0 kB on the A4-3420.
| Feature | Celeron B840 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.8 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | 2.8 GHz+47% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,065 | 1,067 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 450+50% | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 790+58% | 500 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron B840 uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-3420 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Celeron B840 versus DDR3-1600 on the A4-3420 — the Celeron B840 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A4-3420 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 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67 (Celeron B840) and A55,A75,A85X (A4-3420).
| Feature | Celeron B840 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+44333% | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 32 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Celeron B840) vs AMD-V (A4-3420). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Celeron B840) and Radeon HD 6410D (A4-3420) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron B840 targets Budget, A4-3420 targets Entry Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron B840 rivals Pentium B940; A4-3420 rivals Pentium G630.
| Feature | Celeron B840 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) | Radeon HD 6410D |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Entry Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Celeron B840 launched at $86 MSRP, while the A4-3420 debuted at $65. At current prices ($15 vs $30), the Celeron B840 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron B840 delivers 71.0 pts/$ vs 35.6 pts/$ for the A4-3420 — making the Celeron B840 the 66.5% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron B840 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $65-24% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-50% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 71.0+99% | 35.6 |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2011 |
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