CPU
GPU
Pentium 3556U
Celeron B840
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 Pentium 3556U is positioned at rank 253 and the Celeron B840 is on rank 1028, so the Pentium 3556U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 3556U
Performance Per Dollar Celeron B840
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 3556U | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 3556U | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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.
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium 3556U and Celeron B840
Pentium 3556U
The Pentium 3556U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 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: 1,072 points. Launch price was $69.
Celeron B840
The Celeron B840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 2 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: 1,065 points. Launch price was $86.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 3556U and Celeron B840 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Pentium 3556U versus 1.9 GHz on the Celeron B840 — a 11.1% clock advantage for the Celeron B840 (base: 1.7 GHz vs 1.9 GHz). The Pentium 3556U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron B840 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 3556U scores 1,072 against the Celeron B840's 1,065 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium 3556U. Both processors carry 2 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium 3556U | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.7 GHz | 1.9 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | 1.9 GHz+12% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,072 | 1,065 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 450 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 790 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 3556U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron B840 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 3556U | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 3556U) / true (Celeron B840). The Celeron B840 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Pentium 3556U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron B840 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron B840 rivals Pentium B940.
| Feature | Pentium 3556U | Celeron B840 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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