Pentium G3420 vs Celeron G3900E
Pentium G3420
Celeron G3900E
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 G3420 is positioned at rank 714 and the Celeron G3900E is on rank 816, so the Pentium G3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium G3420
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3900E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium G3420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+15%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($40) | ✅ More affordable ($35) |
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 Pentium G3420 and Celeron G3900E
Pentium G3420
The Pentium G3420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,022 points. Launch price was $252.
Celeron G3900E
The Celeron G3900E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,034 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium G3420 and Celeron G3900E share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Pentium G3420 versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron G3900E — a 28.6% clock advantage for the Pentium G3420. The Pentium G3420 uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron G3900E uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium G3420 scores 2,022 against the Celeron G3900E's 2,034 — a 0.6% lead for the Celeron G3900E. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium G3420 vs 2 MB on the Celeron G3900E.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+33% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total)+50% | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 22 nm | 14 nm-36% |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,022 | 2,034 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 699 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 948 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium G3420) / VT-x (Celeron G3900E). The Celeron G3900E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 510), while the Pentium G3420 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3900E targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900E rivals Pentium G4400.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Pentium G3420 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Celeron G3900E debuted at $107. At current prices ($40 vs $35), the Celeron G3900E is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium G3420 delivers 50.5 pts/$ vs 58.1 pts/$ for the Celeron G3900E — making the Celeron G3900E the 13.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium G3420 | Celeron G3900E |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-20% | $107 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40 | $35-13% |
| Performance per Dollar | 50.5 | 58.1+15% |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2016 |
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