Celeron G3900E vs Ryzen 5 3600
Celeron G3900E
Ryzen 5 3600
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 Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G3900E | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($35) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G3900E | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+280%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($35) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 Ryzen 5 3600
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.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The Celeron G3900E packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G3900E versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600. The Celeron G3900E uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3900E scores 2,034 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 158.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 699 vs 1,295, a 59.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 948 vs 1,898 (66.8% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron G3900E vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 4.2 GHz+75% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 32 MB (total)+1500% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 2,034 | 17,685+769% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 699 | 1,295+85% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 948 | 1,898+100% |
Memory & Platform
Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 3600 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron G3900E) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Celeron G3900E) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | — | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G3900E) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Celeron G3900E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 510), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3900E targets Budget, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900E rivals Pentium G4400; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 510 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G3900E launched at $107 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($35 vs $80), the Celeron G3900E is $45 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G3900E delivers 58.1 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 116.7% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G3900E | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $107-46% | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $35-56% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.1 | 221.1+281% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2019 |
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