Core i3-3217U vs Celeron 2950M
Core i3-3217U
Celeron 2950M
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 Core i3-3217U is positioned at rank 684 and the Celeron 2950M is on rank 545, so the Celeron 2950M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3217U
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2950M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3217U | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3217U | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Core i3-3217U and Celeron 2950M
Core i3-3217U
The Core i3-3217U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,226 points. Launch price was $225.
Celeron 2950M
The Celeron 2950M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,238 points. Launch price was $75.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3217U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 2950M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Core i3-3217U versus 2 GHz on the Celeron 2950M — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Celeron 2950M (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Core i3-3217U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron 2950M uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3217U scores 1,226 against the Celeron 2950M's 1,238 — a 1% lead for the Celeron 2950M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3217U vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2950M.
| Feature | Core i3-3217U | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2 GHz+11% |
| Base Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2 GHz+11% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,226 | 1,238 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 352 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 636 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3217U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron 2950M uses PGA946 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1600 on the Core i3-3217U versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2950M — the Core i3-3217U supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM76,UM77,QM77,QS77 (Core i3-3217U) and HM87,HM86 (Celeron 2950M).
| Feature | Core i3-3217U | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | PGA946 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600+53233% | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | 32 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Core i3-3217U) vs VT-x (Celeron 2950M). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3217U) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2950M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2950M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3217U rivals AMD A6-4455M; Celeron 2950M rivals Pentium 2020M.
| Feature | Core i3-3217U | Celeron 2950M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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