CPU
GPU
Celeron G3930
Athlon II X4 638
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 G3930 is positioned at rank 395 and the Athlon II X4 638 is on rank 1040, so the Celeron G3930 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3930
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G3930 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G3930 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1020%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
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 G3930 and Athlon II X4 638
Celeron G3930
The Celeron G3930 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 2133, DDR3L 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,259 points. Launch price was $42.
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Celeron G3930 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X4 638 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Celeron G3930 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 — a 7.1% clock advantage for the Celeron G3930 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Celeron G3930 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3930 scores 2,259 against the Athlon II X4 638's 2,260 — a 0% lead for the Athlon II X4 638. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3930 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638.
| Feature | Celeron G3930 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+7% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.9 GHz+7% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,259 | 2,260 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 750 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,100 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G3930 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Celeron G3930 versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 — the Celeron G3930 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H110,B250,H270,Z270 (Celeron G3930) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638).
| Feature | Celeron G3930 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400+33% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron G3930) / not specified (Athlon II X4 638). The Celeron G3930 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 610), while the Athlon II X4 638 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3930 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3930 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | Celeron G3930 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 610 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G3930 launched at $42 MSRP, while the Athlon II X4 638 debuted at $300. At current prices ($25 vs $280), the Celeron G3930 is $255 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G3930 delivers 90.4 pts/$ vs 8.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X4 638 — making the Celeron G3930 the 167.2% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G3930 | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $42-86% | $300 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-91% | $280 |
| Performance per Dollar | 90.4+1016% | 8.1 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2012 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Celeron G3930 and Athlon II X4 638
