Celeron N4120 vs Core i3-3250
Celeron N4120
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 N4120 is positioned at rank 1239 and the Core i3-3250 is on rank 846, so the Core i3-3250 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N4120
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3250
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron N4120 | Core i3-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Gemini Lake Refresh (2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron N4120 | 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 N4120 and Core i3-3250
Celeron N4120
The Celeron N4120 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Gemini Lake Refresh (2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 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: 2,463 points. Launch price was $69.
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 N4120 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-3250 offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N4120 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Celeron N4120 versus 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-3250 — a 29.5% clock advantage for the Core i3-3250 (base: 1.1 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Celeron N4120 uses the Gemini Lake Refresh (2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i3-3250 uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron N4120 scores 2,463 against the Core i3-3250's 2,460 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron N4120. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Celeron N4120 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3250.
| Feature | Celeron N4120 | Core i3-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.5 GHz+35% |
| 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 | Gemini Lake Refresh (2019) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 2,463 | 2,460 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron N4120 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 N4120 | Core i3-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1090 | LGA1155 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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