CPU
GPU
Phenom II X3 N850
Celeron J3160
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 Phenom II X3 N850 is positioned at rank 539 and the Celeron J3160 is on rank 485, so the Celeron J3160 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X3 N850
Performance Per Dollar Celeron J3160
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N850 | Celeron J3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Airmont (2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N850 | Celeron J3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Phenom II X3 N850 and Celeron J3160
Phenom II X3 N850
The Phenom II X3 N850 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1.5 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g4. Thermal design power (TDP): 1.5 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,253 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron J3160
The Celeron J3160 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Airmont (2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.24 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,250 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 N850 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Celeron J3160 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron J3160 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N850 versus 2.24 GHz on the Celeron J3160 — a 1.8% clock advantage for the Celeron J3160. The Phenom II X3 N850 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron J3160 uses Airmont (2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 N850 scores 1,253 against the Celeron J3160's 1,250 — a 0.2% lead for the Phenom II X3 N850.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N850 | Celeron J3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3 | 4 / 4+33% |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.24 GHz+2% |
| Base Clock | — | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB | 2 MB+33% |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Airmont (2016) |
| PassMark | 1,253 | 1,250 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 350 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 N850 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron J3160 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N850 | Celeron J3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g4 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X3 N850) / VT-x (Celeron J3160). The Celeron J3160 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 400), while the Phenom II X3 N850 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J3160 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron J3160 rivals Pentium J3710.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N850 | Celeron J3160 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 400 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Low Power |
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