Celeron N2940 vs Ryzen 9 5900X
Celeron N2940
Ryzen 9 5900X
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. The Celeron N2940 is positioned at rank #1085 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 N2940
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 9 5900X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron N2940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron N2940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($350) |
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 N2940 and Ryzen 9 5900X
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 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 5900X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 5 November 2020 (5 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.7 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 64 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 38,955 points. Launch price was $549.
Processing Power
The Celeron N2940 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 12 cores / 24 threads — the Ryzen 9 5900X has 8 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.25 GHz on the Celeron N2940 versus 4.8 GHz on the Ryzen 9 5900X — a 72.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X (base: 1.83 GHz vs 3.7 GHz). The Celeron N2940 uses the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture (22 nm), while the Ryzen 9 5900X uses Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron N2940 scores 1,054 against the Ryzen 9 5900X's 38,955 — a 189.5% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 240 vs 2,174, a 160.2% lead for the Ryzen 9 5900X that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 850 vs 11,888 (173.3% advantage for the Ryzen 9 5900X). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron N2940 vs 64 MB on the Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Feature | Celeron N2940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 12 / 24+200% |
| Boost Clock | 2.25 GHz | 4.8 GHz+113% |
| Base Clock | 1.83 GHz | 3.7 GHz+102% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 64 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-68% |
| Architecture | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) | Vermeer (Zen3) (2020−2022) |
| PassMark | 1,054 | 38,955+3596% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 21,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 240 | 2,174+806% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 850 | 11,888+1299% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron N2940 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 9 5900X 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 9 5900X — the Ryzen 9 5900X supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 9 5900X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Celeron N2940) vs 24 (Ryzen 9 5900X) — the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (Celeron N2940) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 9 5900X).
| Feature | Celeron N2940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1333 | DDR4-3200+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 24+500% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 9 5900X has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron N2940) vs AMD-V (Ryzen 9 5900X). The Celeron N2940 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)), while the Ryzen 9 5900X requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron N2940 targets Budget Laptop, Ryzen 9 5900X targets Workstation. Direct competitor: Celeron N2940 rivals AMD A6-6310; Ryzen 9 5900X rivals Core i9-12900K.
| Feature | Celeron N2940 | Ryzen 9 5900X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget Laptop | Workstation |
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