Core i7-3517U vs Celeron M 900
Core i7-3517U
Celeron M 900
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 i7-3517U is positioned at rank 340 and the Celeron M 900 is on rank 797, so the Core i7-3517U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-3517U
Performance Per Dollar Celeron M 900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-3517U | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-3517U | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 i7-3517U and Celeron M 900
Core i7-3517U
The Core i7-3517U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 2,108 points. Launch price was $69.
Celeron M 900
The Celeron M 900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,101 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Core i7-3517U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron M 900 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Core i7-3517U has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Core i7-3517U versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron M 900 — a 30.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-3517U. The Core i7-3517U uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron M 900 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-3517U scores 2,108 against the Celeron M 900's 2,101 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-3517U.
| Feature | Core i7-3517U | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4+100% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+36% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.9 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,108 | 2,101 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-3517U uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron M 900 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-3517U | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1023 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i7-3517U) / not specified (Celeron M 900). The Core i7-3517U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 4000), while the Celeron M 900 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-3517U rivals AMD A10-4655M.
| Feature | Core i7-3517U | Celeron M 900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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