Core i3-3250 vs Celeron N4100
Core i3-3250
Celeron N4100
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 i3-3250 is positioned at rank 846 and the Celeron N4100 is on rank 330, 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 Core i3-3250
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N4100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Goldmont Plus (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i3-3250 and Celeron N4100
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3250 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron N4100 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N4100 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-3250 versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron N4100 — a 37.3% clock advantage for the Core i3-3250 (base: 3.5 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i3-3250 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron N4100 uses Goldmont Plus (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3250 scores 2,460 against the Celeron N4100's 2,453 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-3250. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3250 vs 4 MB on the Celeron N4100.
| Feature | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+46% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.5 GHz+218% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Goldmont Plus (2017) |
| PassMark | 2,460 | 2,453 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3250 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron N4100 uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1090 |
| 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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