Celeron J3355 vs Pentium 997

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 J3355 vs Pentium 997 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 J3355 vs Pentium 997: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron J3355

2016

Why buy it

✅Draws 10W instead of 17W, a 7W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (6 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 500, while Pentium 997 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,203 vs 1,215).

Pentium 997

2012

Why buy it

✅+1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $134 MSRP, while Celeron J3355 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌70% higher power demand at 17W vs 10W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron J3355 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron J3355 better than Pentium 997?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Celeron J3355 is ahead with 56.2% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Pentium 997 pulls ahead with 1% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium 997 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron J3355 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Celeron J3355 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $134 MSRP, and it still gives you 56.2% higher max boost clock. Pentium 997 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games.

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

Celeron J3355 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Celeron J3355 vs Pentium 997 Technical Specifications

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

Celeron J3355

The Celeron J3355 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,203 points. Launch price was $107.

Pentium 997

The Pentium 997 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,215 points. Launch price was $134.

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Processing Power

Both the Celeron J3355 and Pentium 997 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Celeron J3355 versus 1.6 GHz on the Pentium 997 — a 43.9% clock advantage for the Celeron J3355 (base: 2 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Celeron J3355 uses the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium 997 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron J3355 scores 1,203 against the Pentium 997's 1,215 — a 1% lead for the Pentium 997. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron J3355 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 997.

Feature	Celeron J3355	Pentium 997
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.5 GHz+56%	1.6 GHz
Base Clock	2 GHz+25%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Apollo Lake (2014−2016)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,203	1,215
Geekbench 6 Single	450	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	850	—

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Memory & Platform

The Celeron J3355 uses the FCBGA1296 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium 997 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Celeron J3355	Pentium 997
Socket	FCBGA1296	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400	—
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	6	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron J3355) / not specified (Pentium 997). The Celeron J3355 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 500), while the Pentium 997 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3355 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron J3355 rivals Pentium J4205.