Phenom X3 8450 vs Celeron E3400
Phenom X3 8450
Celeron E3400
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 X3 8450 is positioned at rank 1023 and the Celeron E3400 is on rank 727, so the Celeron E3400 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom X3 8450
Performance Per Dollar Celeron E3400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom X3 8450 | Celeron E3400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($147) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Toliman (2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom X3 8450 | Celeron E3400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+879%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($147) | ✅ More affordable ($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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Phenom X3 8450 and Celeron E3400
Phenom X3 8450
The Phenom X3 8450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toliman (2008) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Max frequency: 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,221 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron E3400
The Celeron E3400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 17 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,220 points. Launch price was $76.
Processing Power
The Phenom X3 8450 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Celeron E3400 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Phenom X3 8450 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.1 GHz on the Phenom X3 8450 versus 2.6 GHz on the Celeron E3400 — a 21.3% clock advantage for the Celeron E3400. The Phenom X3 8450 uses the Toliman (2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Celeron E3400 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom X3 8450 scores 1,221 against the Celeron E3400's 1,220 — a 0.1% lead for the Phenom X3 8450. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Phenom X3 8450 vs 0 kB on the Celeron E3400.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8450 | Celeron E3400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 3 / 3+50% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.1 GHz | 2.6 GHz+24% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 1 MB (total)+100% |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Toliman (2008) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,221 | 1,220 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 347 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 624 |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom X3 8450 uses the AM2+ socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron E3400 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8450 | Celeron E3400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2+ | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 8 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Phenom X3 8450) / true (Celeron E3400). Primary use case: Celeron E3400 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron E3400 rivals Pentium E5200.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8450 | Celeron E3400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Phenom X3 8450 launched at $145 MSRP, while the Celeron E3400 debuted at $53. At current prices ($147 vs $15), the Celeron E3400 is $132 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Phenom X3 8450 delivers 8.3 pts/$ vs 81.3 pts/$ for the Celeron E3400 — making the Celeron E3400 the 162.9% better value option.
| Feature | Phenom X3 8450 | Celeron E3400 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $145 | $53-63% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $147 | $15-90% |
| Performance per Dollar | 8.3 | 81.3+880% |
| Release Date | 2008 | 2010 |
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