Core i3-390M vs Celeron 5305U
Core i3-390M
Celeron 5305U
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 i3-390M is positioned at rank 585 and the Celeron 5305U is on rank 656, so the Core i3-390M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-390M
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 5305U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-390M | Celeron 5305U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-390M | Celeron 5305U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-390M and Celeron 5305U
Core i3-390M
The Core i3-390M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,292 points. Launch price was $39.
Celeron 5305U
The Celeron 5305U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1528. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400, LPDDR3-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,307 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i3-390M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 5305U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M versus 2.3 GHz on the Celeron 5305U — a 109.8% clock advantage for the Celeron 5305U (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.3 GHz). The Core i3-390M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 5305U uses Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-390M scores 1,292 against the Celeron 5305U's 1,307 — a 1.2% lead for the Celeron 5305U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-390M vs 2 MB on the Celeron 5305U.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Celeron 5305U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 2.3 GHz+243% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+16% | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | — |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Comet Lake-U (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 1,292 | 1,307+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 480 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 865 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-390M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 5305U uses FCBGA1528 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i3-390M versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron 5305U — the Celeron 5305U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 5305U supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-390M) vs 12 (Celeron 5305U) — the Core i3-390M offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Celeron 5305U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FCBGA1528 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 64 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core i3-390M) vs VT-x, VT-d (Celeron 5305U). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Core i3-390M) and UHD Graphics (Comet Lake) (Celeron 5305U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile, Celeron 5305U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 5305U rivals Pentium Gold 6405U.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Celeron 5305U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | UHD Graphics (Comet Lake) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Mobile | Budget |
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