CPU
GPU
Phenom II X4 900e
Celeron 3965U
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 X4 900e is positioned at rank 373 and the Celeron 3965U is on rank 265, so the Celeron 3965U 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 X4 900e
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 3965U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X4 900e | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Deneb (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake-U (2017) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X4 900e | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| 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 X4 900e and Celeron 3965U
Phenom II X4 900e
The Phenom II X4 900e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,727 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron 3965U
The Celeron 3965U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake-U (2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,753 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X4 900e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron 3965U offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom II X4 900e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Phenom II X4 900e versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron 3965U — a 8.7% clock advantage for the Phenom II X4 900e (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.2 GHz). The Phenom II X4 900e uses the Deneb (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 3965U uses Kaby Lake-U (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X4 900e scores 1,727 against the Celeron 3965U's 1,753 — a 1.5% lead for the Celeron 3965U. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X4 900e vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 3965U.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 900e | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+9% | 2.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz+9% | 2.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+200% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core)+100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Deneb (2009−2011) | Kaby Lake-U (2017) |
| PassMark | 1,727 | 1,753+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 600 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,200 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X4 900e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 3965U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 900e | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 10 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom II X4 900e) / VT-x (Celeron 3965U). The Celeron 3965U includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 610), while the Phenom II X4 900e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 3965U targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: Celeron 3965U rivals Pentium Gold 4415U.
| Feature | Phenom II X4 900e | Celeron 3965U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel HD Graphics 610 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget Laptop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Phenom II X4 900e and Celeron 3965U
