Core i3-3250 vs Celeron N4120
Core i3-3250
Celeron N4120
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 N4120 is on rank 1239, 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 Core i3-3250
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N4120
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4120 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Gemini Lake Refresh (2019) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4120 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 N4120
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 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.
Processing Power
The Core i3-3250 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron N4120 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N4120 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Core i3-3250 versus 2.6 GHz on the Celeron N4120 — a 29.5% 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 N4120 uses Gemini Lake Refresh (2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-3250 scores 2,460 against the Celeron N4120's 2,463 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron N4120. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3250 vs 4 MB on the Celeron N4120.
| Feature | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4120 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+35% | 2.6 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) | Gemini Lake Refresh (2019) |
| PassMark | 2,460 | 2,463 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-3250 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron N4120 uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-3250 | Celeron N4120 |
|---|---|---|
| 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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