Core i5-430M vs Celeron 3855U
Core i5-430M
Celeron 3855U
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 i5-430M is positioned at rank 12 and the Celeron 3855U is on rank 193, so the Core i5-430M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-430M
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 3855U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-430M | Celeron 3855U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-430M | Celeron 3855U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 i5-430M and Celeron 3855U
Core i5-430M
The Core i5-430M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 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: 1,210 points. Launch price was $79.
Celeron 3855U
The Celeron 3855U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 August 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, LPDDR3-1600/1866, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,215 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i5-430M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 3855U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core i5-430M versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 3855U — a 45% clock advantage for the Core i5-430M (base: 2.26 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Core i5-430M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 3855U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-430M scores 1,210 against the Celeron 3855U's 1,215 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron 3855U. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 361, a 3.1% lead for the Celeron 3855U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 750 vs 632 (17.1% advantage for the Core i5-430M). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-430M vs 2 MB on the Celeron 3855U.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Celeron 3855U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz+58% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz+41% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 14 nm-56% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 1,210 | 1,215 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | 361+3% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 750+19% | 632 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-430M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 3855U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Core i5-430M versus DDR4 2133 MHz on the Celeron 3855U — the Celeron 3855U supports 200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 3855U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-430M) vs 10 (Celeron 3855U) — the Core i5-430M offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55 (Core i5-430M) and FCBGA1356 (Celeron 3855U).
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Celeron 3855U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR4 2133 MHz+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+60% | 10 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-430M) vs true (Celeron 3855U). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Core i5-430M) and Intel HD Graphics 510 (Celeron 3855U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-430M targets Performance Laptop, Celeron 3855U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i5-430M rivals AMD Turion II M620; Celeron 3855U rivals Pentium 3825U.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Celeron 3855U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | true |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | Budget |
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