Celeron G3950 vs Core i5-4210U

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.

Celeron G3950 vs Core i5-4210U FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Celeron G3950 vs Core i5-4210U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Celeron G3950

2017

Why buy it

✅+0.9% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 51W instead of 512W, a 461W reduction.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (750 vs 763).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 3 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $52 MSRP, while Core i5-4210U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i5-4210U

2014

Why buy it

✅+1.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,316 vs 2,336).
❌903.9% higher power demand at 512W vs 51W.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G3950 better than Core i5-4210U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Core i5-4210U is ahead with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G3950 pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark. Core i5-4210U also has the bigger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G3950 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Celeron G3950 is the better buy right now. Celeron G3950 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $52 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.9% better PassMark. The compromise is that Core i5-4210U is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (44.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron G3950 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron G3950 vs Core i5-4210U Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Core i5-4210U

The Core i5-4210U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,316 points. Launch price was $281.

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Processing Power

The Celeron G3950 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-4210U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Celeron G3950 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i5-4210U — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Celeron G3950 (base: 3 GHz vs 1.7 GHz). The Celeron G3950 uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-4210U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G3950 scores 2,336 against the Core i5-4210U's 2,316 — a 0.9% lead for the Celeron G3950. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 750 vs 763, a 1.7% lead for the Core i5-4210U that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3950 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4210U.

Feature	Celeron G3950	Core i5-4210U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3 GHz+11%	2.7 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+76%	1.7 GHz
L3 Cache	2 MB (total)	3 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm-36%	22 nm
Architecture	Kaby Lake (2016−2019)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	2,336	2,316
Geekbench 6 Single	750	763+2%
Geekbench 6 Multi	1,100	—

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Memory & Platform

The Celeron G3950 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-4210U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the Celeron G3950 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Core i5-4210U — the Celeron G3950 supports 50% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3950 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron G3950) vs 12 (Core i5-4210U) — the Celeron G3950 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H110,B250,H270,Z270 (Celeron G3950) and HM86,HM87,QM87 (Core i5-4210U).

Feature	Celeron G3950	Core i5-4210U
Socket	LGA1151	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+50%	DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+300%	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G3950) vs VT-x, EPT (Core i5-4210U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 610 (Celeron G3950) and HD Graphics 4400 (Core i5-4210U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3950 targets Budget, Core i5-4210U targets Thin & Light Laptop. Direct competitor: Celeron G3950 rivals Pentium G4560; Core i5-4210U rivals A8-6410.