Core i3-5015U vs Celeron N3450
Core i3-5015U
Celeron N3450
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 i3-5015U is positioned at rank 648 and the Celeron N3450 is on rank 122, so the Celeron N3450 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-5015U
Performance Per Dollar Celeron N3450
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-5015U | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-5015U | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-5015U and Celeron N3450
Core i3-5015U
The Core i3-5015U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,990 points. Launch price was $275.
Celeron N3450
The Celeron N3450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,981 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i3-5015U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron N3450 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron N3450 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Core i3-5015U versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron N3450 — a 4.7% clock advantage for the Celeron N3450 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i3-5015U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Celeron N3450 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-5015U scores 1,990 against the Celeron N3450's 1,981 — a 0.5% lead for the Core i3-5015U. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-5015U vs 0 kB on the Celeron N3450.
| Feature | Core i3-5015U | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.2 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz+91% | 1.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2 MB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Broadwell-U (2015) | Apollo Lake (2014−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,990 | 1,981 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-5015U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron N3450 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-5015U versus 2400 on the Celeron N3450 — the Celeron N3450 supports 199.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-5015U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-5015U) vs 6 (Celeron N3450) — the Core i3-5015U offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-5015U | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FCBGA1296 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | 2400+79900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+209715100% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12+100% | 6 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-5015U) vs true (Celeron N3450). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 5500 (Core i3-5015U) and Intel HD Graphics 500 (Celeron N3450) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5015U targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Celeron N3450 rivals AMD A4-9120.
| Feature | Core i3-5015U | Celeron N3450 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 5500 | Intel HD Graphics 500 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | true |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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