Core i3-390M vs Celeron E3500
Core i3-390M
Celeron E3500
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 E3500 is on rank 778, 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 E3500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-390M | Celeron E3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-390M | Celeron E3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 E3500
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 E3500
The Celeron E3500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 29 August 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,290 points. Launch price was $62.
Processing Power
The Core i3-390M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron E3500's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M versus 2.7 GHz on the Celeron E3500 — a 120.5% clock advantage for the Celeron E3500 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i3-390M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron E3500 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-390M scores 1,292 against the Celeron E3500's 1,290 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-390M. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-390M vs 0 kB on the Celeron E3500.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Celeron E3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 2.7 GHz+303% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | 2.7 GHz+2% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (total)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,292 | 1,290 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 347 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 624 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-390M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron E3500 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-390M) vs 0 (Celeron E3500) — the Core i3-390M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Celeron E3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. The Core i3-390M includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics), while the Celeron E3500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile, Celeron E3500 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron E3500 rivals Pentium E5200.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | Celeron E3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Mobile | Budget |
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