Core i5-4250U vs Celeron G3900
Core i5-4250U
Celeron G3900
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 i5-4250U is positioned at rank 100 and the Celeron G3900 is on rank 419, so the Core i5-4250U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-4250U
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-4250U | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-4250U | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) |
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 i5-4250U and Celeron G3900
Core i5-4250U
The Core i5-4250U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 June 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,144 points. Launch price was $430.
Celeron G3900
The Celeron G3900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,155 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
The Core i5-4250U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G3900's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Core i5-4250U versus 2.8 GHz on the Celeron G3900 — a 7.4% clock advantage for the Celeron G3900 (base: 1.3 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i5-4250U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron G3900 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-4250U scores 2,144 against the Celeron G3900's 2,155 — a 0.5% lead for the Celeron G3900. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 770 vs 680, a 12.4% lead for the Core i5-4250U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,450 vs 1,250 (14.8% advantage for the Core i5-4250U). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-4250U vs 4 MB (total) on the Celeron G3900.
| Feature | Core i5-4250U | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.8 GHz+8% |
| Base Clock | 1.3 GHz | 2.8 GHz+115% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 4 MB (total)+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,144 | 2,155 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 770+13% | 680 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,450+16% | 1,250 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-4250U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron G3900 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Core i5-4250U versus DDR4-2133 on the Celeron G3900 — the Celeron G3900 supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3900 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i5-4250U) vs 16 (Celeron G3900) — the Celeron G3900 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Haswell-ULT (Core i5-4250U) and H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Celeron G3900).
| Feature | Core i5-4250U | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 64 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 5000 (Core i5-4250U) and Intel HD Graphics 510 (Celeron G3900) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-4250U targets Budget, Celeron G3900 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-4250U rivals Ryzen 3 3200U; Celeron G3900 rivals Pentium G4400.
| Feature | Core i5-4250U | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 5000 | Intel HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | Budget | Desktop |
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