Phenom II X3 N870 vs Celeron G3900
Phenom II X3 N870
Celeron G3900
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 N870 is positioned at rank 250 and the Celeron G3900 is on rank 419, so the Phenom II X3 N870 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 N870
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G3900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N870 | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X3 N870 | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($39) |
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 N870 and Celeron G3900
Phenom II X3 N870
The Phenom II X3 N870 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: 2.3 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: 2,145 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron G3900
The Celeron G3900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 51 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,155 points. Launch price was $42.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X3 N870 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Celeron G3900 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X3 N870 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Phenom II X3 N870 versus 2.8 GHz on the Celeron G3900 — a 19.6% clock advantage for the Celeron G3900. The Phenom II X3 N870 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G3900 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X3 N870 scores 2,145 against the Celeron G3900's 2,155 — a 0.5% lead for the Celeron G3900.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N870 | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.8 GHz+22% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1.5 MB+500% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,145 | 2,155 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 680 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,250 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X3 N870 uses the S1g4 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G3900 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N870 | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g4 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X3 N870) / VT-x, VT-d (Celeron G3900). The Celeron G3900 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 510), while the Phenom II X3 N870 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G3900 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G3900 rivals Pentium G4400.
| Feature | Phenom II X3 N870 | Celeron G3900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 510 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
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