Celeron G3950 vs A8-3870K
Celeron G3950
A8-3870K
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 G3950 is positioned at rank 457 and the A8-3870K is on rank 502, so the Celeron G3950 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3950
Performance Per Dollar A8-3870K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G3950 | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G3950 | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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 G3950 and A8-3870K
Celeron G3950
The Celeron G3950 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 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 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: 2,336 points. Launch price was $52.
A8-3870K
The A8-3870K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 100 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,360 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Celeron G3950 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A8-3870K offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-3870K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Celeron G3950 versus 3 GHz on the A8-3870K — identical boost frequencies (base: 3 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Celeron G3950 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-3870K uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3950 scores 2,336 against the A8-3870K's 2,360 — a 1% lead for the A8-3870K. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 750 vs 380, a 65.5% lead for the Celeron G3950 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3950 vs 0 kB on the A8-3870K.
| Feature | Celeron G3950 | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3 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 | 2,336 | 2,360+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 750+97% | 380 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,100 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G3950 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-3870K uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Celeron G3950 versus DDR3-1866 on the A8-3870K — the Celeron G3950 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3950 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron G3950) vs 20 (A8-3870K) — the A8-3870K offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H110,B250,H270,Z270 (Celeron G3950) and A55,A75 (A8-3870K).
| Feature | Celeron G3950 | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| 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+100% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 20+25% |
Advanced Features
Only the A8-3870K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G3950) vs AMD-V (A8-3870K). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 610 (Celeron G3950) and Radeon HD 6550D (A8-3870K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3950 targets Budget, A8-3870K targets Budget Gaming Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G3950 rivals Pentium G4560; A8-3870K rivals Core i3-2125.
| Feature | Celeron G3950 | A8-3870K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 610 | Radeon HD 6550D |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget Gaming Desktop |
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