Core i5-655K vs Celeron G3930T

The Core i5-655K packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G3930T's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.46 GHz on the Core i5-655K versus 2.7 GHz on the Celeron G3930T — a 24.7% clock advantage for the Core i5-655K (base: 3.2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i5-655K uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron G3930T uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-655K scores 2,017 against the Celeron G3930T's 2,023 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron G3930T. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 560 vs 704, a 22.8% lead for the Celeron G3930T that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,250 vs 1,350 (7.7% advantage for the Celeron G3930T). L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-655K vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G3930T.

The Core i5-655K uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G3930T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Core i5-655K versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron G3930T — the Celeron G3930T supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G3930T 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. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H55,H57,P55 (Core i5-655K) and H110,B250,H270,Z270 (Celeron G3930T).

Only the Core i5-655K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core i5-655K) vs VT-x, VT-d (Celeron G3930T). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) (Core i5-655K) and Intel HD Graphics 610 (Celeron G3930T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-655K targets Desktop, Celeron G3930T targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G3930T rivals Pentium G4560T.

The Core i5-655K launched at $216 MSRP, while the Celeron G3930T debuted at $42. At current prices ($55 vs $39), the Celeron G3930T is $16 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-655K delivers 36.7 pts/$ vs 51.9 pts/$ for the Celeron G3930T — making the Celeron G3930T the 34.3% better value option.