Celeron G3900E vs Core i3-2102
Celeron G3900E
Core i3-2102
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 G3900E is positioned at rank 816 and the Core i3-2102 is on rank 857, so the Celeron G3900E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3900E
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-2102
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G3900E | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G3900E | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+133%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($35) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Celeron G3900E and Core i3-2102
Celeron G3900E
The Celeron G3900E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,034 points. Launch price was $107.
Core i3-2102
The Core i3-2102 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,029 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Celeron G3900E packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-2102's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G3900E versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i3-2102 — a 25.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-2102. The Celeron G3900E uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-2102 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3900E scores 2,034 against the Core i3-2102's 2,029 — a 0.2% lead for the Celeron G3900E. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 699 vs 515, a 30.3% lead for the Celeron G3900E that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 948 vs 1,082 (13.2% advantage for the Core i3-2102). L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron G3900E vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-2102.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.1 GHz+29% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 3 MB (total)+50% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,034 | 2,029 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 699+36% | 515 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 948 | 1,082+14% |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Celeron G3900E versus DDR3-1333 on the Core i3-2102 — the Celeron G3900E supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3900E supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Celeron G3900E) and H61,H67,P67,Z68 (Core i3-2102).
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 510 (Celeron G3900E) and Intel HD Graphics 2000 (Core i3-2102) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3900E targets Budget, Core i3-2102 targets Office Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900E rivals Pentium G4400.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 510 | Intel HD Graphics 2000 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Office Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G3900E launched at $107 MSRP, while the Core i3-2102 debuted at $117. At current prices ($35 vs $15), the Core i3-2102 is $20 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G3900E delivers 58.1 pts/$ vs 135.3 pts/$ for the Core i3-2102 — making the Core i3-2102 the 79.8% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i3-2102 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $107-9% | $117 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35 | $15-57% |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.1 | 135.3+133% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2011 |
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