Celeron G6900E vs Core i3-8121U
Celeron G6900E
Core i3-8121U
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G6900E
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-8121U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G6900E | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($53) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / 10 nm) | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) / 10 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G6900E | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($53) | ✅ 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 G6900E and Core i3-8121U
Celeron G6900E
The Celeron G6900E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 46 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,272 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i3-8121U
The Core i3-8121U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 May 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,271 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Celeron G6900E packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-8121U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Celeron G6900E versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-8121U — a 6.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-8121U (base: 3 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Celeron G6900E uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i3-8121U uses Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G6900E scores 4,272 against the Core i3-8121U's 4,271 — a 0% lead for the Celeron G6900E. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,563 vs 1,178, a 28.1% lead for the Celeron G6900E that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,631 vs 2,250 (15.6% advantage for the Celeron G6900E). Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Celeron G6900E | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 3.2 GHz+7% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+36% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm | 10 nm |
| Architecture | Alder Lake-S (2022) | Coffee Lake-U (2018−2019) |
| PassMark | 4,272 | 4,271 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,563+33% | 1,178 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,631+17% | 2,250 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G6900E uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i3-8121U uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Celeron G6900E versus DDR4-2400 on the Core i3-8121U — the Celeron G6900E supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G6900E supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 20 (Celeron G6900E) vs 16 (Core i3-8121U) — the Celeron G6900E offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Celeron G6900E) and SoC (Core i3-8121U).
| Feature | Celeron G6900E | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 5.0+67% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800+25% | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 128 GB+300% | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20+25% | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Only the Core i3-8121U supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G6900E) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-8121U). The Celeron G6900E includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 710), while the Core i3-8121U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G6900E targets Budget, Core i3-8121U targets Productivity. Direct competitor: Celeron G6900E rivals Pentium Gold G7400; Core i3-8121U rivals Core i3-8130U.
| Feature | Celeron G6900E | Core i3-8121U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 710 | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | Budget | Productivity |
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