CPU
GPU
Core i3-5020U
Celeron J3455
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 i3-5020U is positioned at rank 598 and the Celeron J3455 is on rank 994, so the Core i3-5020U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-5020U
Performance Per Dollar Celeron J3455
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-5020U | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Broadwell-U (2015) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Apollo Lake (2014−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-5020U | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 i3-5020U and Celeron J3455
Core i3-5020U
The Core i3-5020U 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 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 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: 2,232 points. Launch price was $281.
Celeron J3455
The Celeron J3455 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 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L/LPDDR3 up to 1866 MT/s; LPDDR4 up to 2400 MT/s. Passmark benchmark score: 2,247 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i3-5020U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron J3455 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron J3455 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Core i3-5020U versus 2.3 GHz on the Celeron J3455 — a 4.4% clock advantage for the Celeron J3455 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.5 GHz). The Core i3-5020U uses the Broadwell-U (2015) architecture (14 nm), while the Celeron J3455 uses Apollo Lake (2014−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-5020U scores 2,232 against the Celeron J3455's 2,247 — a 0.7% lead for the Celeron J3455. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 600 vs 450, a 28.6% lead for the Core i3-5020U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,200 vs 850 (34.1% advantage for the Core i3-5020U). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-5020U vs 0 kB on the Celeron J3455.
| Feature | Core i3-5020U | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.3 GHz+5% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz+47% | 1.5 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 | 2,232 | 2,247 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 600+33% | 450 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,200+41% | 850 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-5020U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron J3455 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Core i3-5020U versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron J3455 — the Celeron J3455 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-5020U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-5020U) vs 6 (Celeron J3455) — the Core i3-5020U offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Broadwell-U (Core i3-5020U) and N/A (SoC) (Celeron J3455).
| Feature | Core i3-5020U | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FCBGA1296 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR4-2400+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12+100% | 6 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-5020U) vs VT-x (Celeron J3455). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics 5500 (Core i3-5020U) and HD Graphics 500 (Celeron J3455) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-5020U targets Mainstream Laptop, Celeron J3455 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron J3455 rivals Pentium J4205.
| Feature | Core i3-5020U | Celeron J3455 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 5500 | HD Graphics 500 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x |
| Target Use | Mainstream Laptop | Low Power |
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