Celeron N3050 vs Pentium B980

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 N3050 vs Pentium B980 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 N3050 vs Pentium B980: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron N3050

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 35W, a 29W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), while Pentium B980 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,099 vs 1,101).

Pentium B980

2012

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $125 MSRP, while Celeron N3050 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌483.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 6W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron N3050 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium B980 better than Celeron N3050?

Yes. Pentium B980 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium B980 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.0% 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, Pentium B980 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium B980 is the better buy right now. Pentium B980 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $125 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (8.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 N3050 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2015 vs 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Celeron N3050 vs Pentium B980 Technical Specifications

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

Celeron N3050

The Celeron N3050 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Braswell (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.16 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,099 points. Launch price was $107.

Pentium B980

The Pentium B980 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,101 points. Launch price was $125.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Celeron N3050 and Pentium B980 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.16 GHz on the Celeron N3050 versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium B980 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Pentium B980 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Celeron N3050 uses the Braswell (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Pentium B980 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron N3050 scores 1,099 against the Pentium B980's 1,101 — a 0.2% lead for the Pentium B980. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron N3050 vs 2 MB (total) on the Pentium B980.

Feature	Celeron N3050	Pentium B980
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.16 GHz	2.4 GHz+11%
Base Clock	1.6 GHz	2.4 GHz+50%
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	14 nm-56%	32 nm
Architecture	Braswell (2015−2016)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,099	1,101
Geekbench 6 Single	221	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	440	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Celeron N3050 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium B980 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Celeron N3050	Pentium B980
Socket	FCBGA1170	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L-1600	—
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	4	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x / EPT (Celeron N3050) / not specified (Pentium B980). The Celeron N3050 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Braswell)), while the Pentium B980 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron N3050 targets Netbook. Direct competitor: Celeron N3050 rivals AMD E2-7110.