Celeron G3900E vs Core i7-9700K
Celeron G3900E
Core i7-9700K
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. The Celeron G3900E is positioned at rank #816 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3900E
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-9700K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G3900E | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($35) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G3900E | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+24%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($35) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($200) |
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 G3900E and Core i7-9700K
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 i7-9700K
The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.
Processing Power
The Celeron G3900E packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core i7-9700K offers 8 cores / 8 threads — the Core i7-9700K has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G3900E versus 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K — a 68.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-9700K. The Celeron G3900E uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-9700K uses Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3900E scores 2,034 against the Core i7-9700K's 14,397 — a 150.5% lead for the Core i7-9700K. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron G3900E vs 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 8 / 8+300% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4.9 GHz+104% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 12 MB (total)+500% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 2,034 | 14,397+608% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 699 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 948 | — |
Memory & Platform
Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Core i7-9700K supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 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 Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K).
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G3900E) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-9700K). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 510 (Celeron G3900E) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3900E targets Budget, Core i7-9700K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900E rivals Pentium G4400.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 510 | UHD Graphics 630 |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G3900E launched at $107 MSRP, while the Core i7-9700K debuted at $385. At current prices ($35 vs $200), the Celeron G3900E is $165 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G3900E delivers 58.1 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-9700K — making the Core i7-9700K the 21.3% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Core i7-9700K |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $107-72% | $385 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35-83% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.1 | 72.0+24% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2018 |
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