Celeron G3900T vs Atom C3538
Celeron G3900T
Atom C3538
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 G3900T is positioned at rank 451 and the Atom C3538 is on rank 389, so the Atom C3538 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3900T
Performance Per Dollar Atom C3538
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G3900T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont (2016−2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G3900T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($70) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 G3900T and Atom C3538
Celeron G3900T
The Celeron G3900T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,900 points. Launch price was $69.
Atom C3538
The Atom C3538 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont (2016−2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 8 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1310. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4: 2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,910 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Celeron G3900T packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Atom C3538 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom C3538 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Celeron G3900T versus 2.1 GHz on the Atom C3538 — a 21.3% clock advantage for the Celeron G3900T (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Celeron G3900T uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Atom C3538 uses Goldmont (2016−2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3900T scores 1,900 against the Atom C3538's 1,910 — a 0.5% lead for the Atom C3538. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron G3900T vs 8 MB on the Atom C3538.
| Feature | Celeron G3900T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz+24% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz+24% | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 8 MB+300% |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 8 MB+1500% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Goldmont (2016−2017) |
| PassMark | 1,900 | 1,910 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 514 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 903 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G3900T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Atom C3538 uses FCBGA1310 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Atom C3538 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron G3900T) vs 12 (Atom C3538) — the Celeron G3900T offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Celeron G3900T) and Intel FCBGA1310 (Atom C3538).
| Feature | Celeron G3900T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FCBGA1310 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 256 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron G3900T) / not specified (Atom C3538). The Celeron G3900T includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 510), while the Atom C3538 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3900T targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900T rivals Pentium G4400T.
| Feature | Celeron G3900T | Atom C3538 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 510 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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