Intel Celeron G3930

# Intel Celeron G3930

The Intel Celeron G3930 is a dual-core, dual-thread desktop processor built on the Kaby Lake architecture using Intel’s 14 nm process. Benchmark data places it at the 16th percentile among all CPUs, indicating entry-level performance. It is a 51 W TDP part with integrated Intel HD 610 graphics, making it suitable for basic computing tasks, though its Cinebench scores show it trails modern mainstream chips by a significant margin.

Who Should Consider It

The Celeron G3930 is designed for users whose workloads are light and single-threaded in nature. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 271 and multi-core score of 1922 indicate that it can handle everyday office tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet work, and web browsing without difficulty. For users who primarily run email clients, media players, or lightweight productivity suites, this processor provides adequate responsiveness. However, it is not suited for content creation — 3D rendering, video editing, or large-scale photo manipulation will be severely constrained by its two threads and limited cache. Gamers should look elsewhere; the G3930’s low multi-core throughput means modern games that require more than two threads will struggle. That said, older or indie titles with low system requirements may run acceptably, especially at lower resolutions. The integrated HD 610 graphics handle basic video playback and 2D workloads, but any discrete GPU pairing would be bottlenecked by the CPU in most scenarios.

Power and Thermals

The G3930 carries a TDP of 51 W, which places it in a modest power envelope. This allows for a simple, low-profile cooling solution — a stock cooler or a basic air cooler is sufficient for sustained operation. The 14 nm Kaby Lake process contributes to energy efficiency, and the lack of a boost clock means power draw remains steady under load. For system builders, this processor does not demand a high-end motherboard power delivery design or elaborate cooling infrastructure. The 51 W figure also implies that the CPU can be used in compact cases with limited airflow, as long as the case provides any reasonable ventilation. Enthusiasts overclocking will find no headroom — the multiplier is locked — so thermals will remain predictable. Overall, the data suggests that thermal management is a non-issue; even a modest cooler will keep temperatures within safe limits during sustained heavy loads, though the processor’s low performance ceiling means such loads are rarely encountered.

Benchmark Performance

In Cinebench R23, the G3930 scores 1922 in multi-core and 271 in single-core. These numbers are low by any modern standard — the 16th percentile ranking across all CPUs confirms its position near the bottom of the performance distribution. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score drops to 807 and single-core to 113, while Cinebench R15 shows a multi-core score of 193. The average benchmark score across all tested workloads is 661. When compared to its nearest rivals, the G3930 is essentially tied with the Intel Xeon L5430, which has an identical average score of 661 with a 0% delta. The Intel Core i3-3225 scores 662, just 0.1% higher, while the AMD Phenom II X4 925 scores 659, 0.3% lower, and the AMD Athlon II X4 640 scores 663, 0.3% higher. These deltas are all within 0.3% of each other, meaning the G3930 offers performance statistically indistinguishable from those older quad-core and dual-core parts. This is notable because the G3930 has only two threads, yet it matches quad-core CPUs from the Phenom and Athlon era, suggesting that its per-core efficiency is relatively strong for its class. However, the absolute performance level remains low — the data shows no scenario where the G3930 distinguishes itself from these decade-old processors.

How It Compares

vs. Intel Xeon L5430: The Xeon L5430 matches the G3930 exactly, with both having an average benchmark score of 661 and a 0% delta. The L5430 is a server-class processor from an older generation, yet it delivers the same overall performance. This indicates that the Celeron’s architectural advantages are offset by its lower core count and thread count. For single-threaded tasks, the G3930’s newer Kaby Lake design likely offers better instruction-level efficiency, but the overall workload balance ends up identical.

vs. Intel Core i3-3225: The i3-3225 scores 662, a mere 0.1% higher than the G3930. This rival is an Ivy Bridge dual-core with Hyper-Threading, giving it four threads. Despite that thread advantage, the performance gap is negligible. The G3930’s higher base clock of 2.90 GHz and newer architecture help it keep pace, but the i3-3225’s extra threads provide a slight edge in multi-threaded scenarios. In practice, users would not notice any difference between these two.

vs. AMD Phenom II X4 925: The Phenom II X4 925 scores 659, which is 0.3% lower than the G3930. This AMD part has four physical cores, yet the G3930 manages to outperform it by a hair. This confirms the Celeron’s superior per-core throughput, as two Kaby Lake cores can slightly exceed four older K10 cores in these benchmarks. However, the margin is so small that it is effectively a tie. For applications that scale well across cores, the Phenom might still feel snappier, but the data shows otherwise.

vs. AMD Athlon II X4 640: The Athlon II X4 640 scores 663, the highest among the rivals, at 0.3% above the G3930. Like the Phenom, it is a quad-core design, and its slight lead suggests that the extra cores do provide a small advantage in multi-threaded workloads. The G3930 remains competitive, but it is the underdog in this pairing. The delta is minuscule, so real-world differences would be imperceptible.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The G3930’s Cinebench R23 single-core score of 271 versus its multi-core score of 1922 reveals a scaling factor of roughly 7.1x from one core to two threads — which is impossible for a true dual-core. This anomaly likely stems from benchmark methodology or thermal/power differences, but the practical takeaway is that the processor is heavily single-thread-limited. The single-core score places it in the same league as other low-end parts, but the multi-core score is still low because there are only two threads. For real workloads, this means that applications which rely on one or two threads — such as older games, basic office software, or light scripting — will run at the processor’s full capability. Conversely, any workload that spreads across four or more threads will see the G3930 fall far behind, as it simply cannot execute more than two threads simultaneously. The R20 single-core score of 113 and multi-core of 807 follow the same pattern, reinforcing that the processor’s strength lies in low-thread-count tasks. In office environments where users switch between apps rather than running simultaneous heavy computations, this behavior is acceptable. But for any form of parallel processing — like compiling code, batch image editing, or multitasking with multiple virtual machines — the G3930 will be the bottleneck, as its two threads are insufficient to keep up with even modest multi-core demands.

FAQ

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Intel Celeron G3930?

A: The average benchmark score across all tested workloads is 661, placing it at the 16th percentile of all CPUs.

Q: How does the Celeron G3930 compare to the Intel Core i3-3225?

A: The Core i3-3225 scores 662, which is 0.1% higher than the G3930’s 661. The performance difference is negligible.

Q: What is the TDP of this processor, and what cooling does it need?

A: The TDP is 51 W, which means a basic air cooler or stock cooler is sufficient. No high-end cooling solution is required.

Q: Does the Celeron G3930 support ECC memory?

A: No, ECC memory is not supported. The processor uses DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: What is the single-core performance in Cinebench R23?

A: The Cinebench R23 single-core score is 271, and the multi-core score is 1922.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked for overclocking?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, so overclocking is not possible.

Platform and Compatibility

The Intel Celeron G3930 uses the Intel Socket 1151 interface and is based on the Kaby Lake architecture. It is manufactured on a 14 nm process by Intel and has a production status of Active, meaning it is still in production. The processor supports DDR4 memory through a dual-channel memory bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is not supported, which limits its appeal in server or reliability-focused builds. For expansion, the CPU provides 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes, which is sufficient for a single discrete graphics card or a few add-in cards. The integrated graphics are Intel HD 610, which handles basic display output and video decoding. The socket 1151 platform is shared with many other Intel processors, but the upgrade path depends on the specific motherboard chipset. Since the G3930 is a low-end part, users might consider it for an entry-level desktop build where the 51 W TDP and modest cooling requirements allow for a compact system. The lack of a boost clock simplifies power delivery, and the locked multiplier means no BIOS tuning is needed. The processor was released in early 2017, and its 16 PCIe lanes are adequate for most consumer workloads, though multi-GPU setups are not practical given the CPU’s performance ceiling. Overall, the platform is straightforward and compatible with standard DDR4 motherboards, but its performance limitations mean it is best suited for basic computing tasks rather than demanding applications.