Celeron N4100 vs Core i3-3250
Celeron N4100
Core i3-3250
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. The Celeron N4100 is positioned at rank 330 and the Core i3-3250 is on rank 846, so the Celeron N4100 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N4100
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3250
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron N4100 | Core i3-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Goldmont Plus (2017) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron N4100 | Core i3-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
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 N4100 and Core i3-3250
Celeron N4100
The Celeron N4100 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2017 (7 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont Plus (2017) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,453 points. Launch price was $107.
Core i3-3250
The Core i3-3250 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,460 points. Launch price was $138.
Processing Power
The Celeron N4100 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3250 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N4100 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Celeron N4100 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-3250 — a 37.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-3250 (base: 1.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Celeron N4100 uses the Goldmont Plus (2017) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-3250 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron N4100 scores 2,453 against the Core i3-3250's 2,460 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-3250. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Celeron N4100 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3250.
| Feature | Celeron N4100 | Core i3-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3.5 GHz+46% |
| Base Clock | 1.1 GHz | 3.5 GHz+218% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB+33% | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 4 MB+1500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-36% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Goldmont Plus (2017) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,453 | 2,460 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron N4100 uses the FCBGA1090 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-3250 uses LGA1155 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Celeron N4100 | Core i3-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1090 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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