Celeron N2940 vs Ryzen 5 3600

CPU

GPU

Celeron N2940

4 Cores4 Thrd7 WWMax: 2.25 GHz2014

Similar parts

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Ryzen 5 3600

6 Cores12 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.2 GHz2019

Ryzen family

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Celeron N2940 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Performance Spectrum

Celeron N2940

4 / 4

1,054

0.0%

Core Duo T2050

Celeron N3000

Celeron J1800

Pentium Dual-Core E2180

17,685

+1577.9%

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

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.

Celeron N2940 vs Ryzen 5 3600 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 N2940 vs Ryzen 5 3600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron N2940

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 7W instead of 65W, a 58W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), while Ryzen 5 3600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 5 3600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (850 vs 1,898).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Ryzen 5 3600.

Ryzen 5 3600

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +687.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅500% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 4) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Celeron N2940.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $199 MSRP, while Celeron N2940 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌828.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 7W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron N2940 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 5 3600 better than Celeron N2940?

Yes. Ryzen 5 3600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 687.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 123.3% better Geekbench multi-core, 1577.9% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 5 3600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 687.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 5 3600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 123.3% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 6 cores and 12 threads.

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

Ryzen 5 3600 is the better buy right now. Ryzen 5 3600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $199 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 687.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (88.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Ryzen 5 3600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 6 cores / 12 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron N2940 vs Ryzen 5 3600 Technical Specifications

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

Celeron N2940

The Celeron N2940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 2.25 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,054 points. Launch price was $69.

Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.

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Processing Power

The Celeron N2940 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.25 GHz on the Celeron N2940 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 60.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 1.83 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Celeron N2940 uses the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron N2940 scores 1,054 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 177.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 240 vs 1,295, a 137.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 850 vs 1,898 (76.3% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron N2940 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.

Feature	Celeron N2940	Ryzen 5 3600
Cores / Threads	4 / 4	6 / 12+50%
Boost Clock	2.25 GHz	4.2 GHz+87%
Base Clock	1.83 GHz	3.6 GHz+97%
L3 Cache	0 kB	32 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512K (per core)	512K (per core)
Process	22 nm	7 nm, 12 nm-68%
Architecture	Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)	Matisse (2019−2020)
PassMark	1,054	17,685+1578%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	9,500
Geekbench 6 Single	240	1,295+440%
Geekbench 6 Multi	850	1,898+123%

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Memory & Platform

The Celeron N2940 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1333 on the Celeron N2940 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 140.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 1500% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Celeron N2940) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Celeron N2940) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).

Feature	Celeron N2940	Ryzen 5 3600
Socket	FCBGA1170	AM4
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 4.0+100%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1333	DDR4-3200+140%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	128 GB+1500%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	4	24+500%

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Advanced Features

Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron N2940) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The Celeron N2940 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron N2940 targets Budget Laptop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Celeron N2940 rivals AMD A6-6310; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.

Feature	Celeron N2940	Ryzen 5 3600
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)	—
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x	Yes
Target Use	Budget Laptop	Gaming/Budget Workstation