Intel Celeron VS Intel Core I3 – Which One is Better?
Your computing needs lead you to make specific decisions when it comes to specifications, especially when building or purchasing a computer. The decisions you make will also consider the processor bringing you to the Intel Celeron vs Intel Core i3 matchup.
The most significant difference that exists between the Intel Celeron vs Intel Core i3 processors is the performance they offer. Intel Celeron provides lower capabilities when compared to Intel Core i3, but the difference doesn’t lie in the performance alone.
You need more information to set your decision in stone, so let’s help you pick the best for you with this guide.
You should also read: “Intel Celeron vs Intel Pentium”
What is Intel Celeron
Intel Celeron is a deliverable from the Intel brand to support creating budget-friendly computers for low-end users.
Its origin starts in 1998, and it is a prominent processor in several entry-level computers used to complete simple daily operations. The processor has improved over the years, with the current releases being better in performance and pricing than its previous models. It also boasts of a lower price than other deliverables from both intel and other brands matching its budget-friendly objective. Let us review the pros and cons of considering the Intel Celeron for your computer build or purchase.
Pros and Cons of Intel Celeron
Pros
Cost Efficiency
The budget-friendly objective is set in stone as the Intel Celeron is the most affordable processor from the intel arsenal. It allows users who need something simple for basic needs to get it without breaking the bank or stretching their finances.
Integrated Graphics
Intel Celeron has integrated graphical capabilities to handle your graphical needs without needing or purchasing a graphics card separately. So you get much more for the single price of the processor when loading videos and accessing the web.
Best for Simple Operations
It’s an excellent match for daily operations with little to zero complexity attached, like surfing the web or creating documents. The processor also gives excellent support for running lighter software packages that you need to complete these simple tasks.
Low Power Consumption
You get to enjoy a lower consumption of power since it doesn’t handle demanding operations, giving you a better battery life. It also lets you worry less about Increasing your payment for electricity bills compared to higher-end processors with increasing demands.
Cons
Low-end Performance
Intel Celeron is the cheapest and matches simple tasks, which means it can’t offer you good results for demanding operations. The reason is due to their low speeds making them slower for high-performance operations like video editing and gaming.
Upgrade Limitation
It’s harder and nearly impossible to upgrade the processor since it’s made for budget use and doesn’t allow for a specification increase. The processor is also mostly fixed firmly to the motherboard, increasing the difficulty of replacing it when planning an upgrade.
Multitasking Issues
The processor is less powerful since it doesn’t support hyperthreading and has lesser cores making it struggle with multitasking. You can only handle simple tasks with this processor due to its low-end capabilities.
Limited Graphical Performance
Celeron’s graphics capabilities integrated into the processor are only enough for low demands and can’t substitute for graphics memory. So, you will need to get dedicated graphics memory to satisfy the higher graphical demands you might need for other operations.
What is Intel Core i3?
The Intel core i3 is a low-end deliverable from the intel brand but serves users with a slightly higher budget.
It’s a processor that boasts more cores than its predecessors and comes with better specifications to match its performance. Intel core i3 uses these improved components to handle more demands and offer you performance that enters the mid-grade range. The processor is faster and holds increasing values in every aspect, including consumption and pricing, compared to previous processors. Let us check out the pros and cons of considering the Intel core i3 when planning to purchase or build a computer.
Pros and Cons of Intel Core i3
Pros
Great Performance
Intel Core i3 serves you well for mid-level computing operations with considerable demands due to its improved specifications. The higher speed makes it handle your tasks faster, and the more cores make it work efficiently.
Average Power Consumption
It is a processor that offers increased values which includes the power it consumes proportionally to the performance it offers. However, the consumption seems high but is moderate when compared to more powerful processors that you find on the market.
Hyper-Threading Support
The processor supports hyper-threading, which makes it handle multiple operations simultaneously, increasing your benefits and reducing time when completing different tasks.
To learn more about this check out: “What are CPU Threads?”
Integrated Graphics
Intel core i3 also lets you stress less when displaying graphics on monitors due to the graphics integrated into it. So, you won’t need to spend extra on purchasing a separate graphics memory when you get this processor.
Cons
Incompatible with High-end Operations
The processor provides higher performance with its improved specifications, but there is a limit to the operations that it can handle. It struggles with operations that demand much more computing power than the mid-tier requirements, especially for gaming and rendering.
Limit to Upgrades
Intel core i3 has limits to the upgrades you can make, as it can’t reach a certain level, like offering peak high-end performance. They are common in mid-range computers but might be fixed in place, increasing the upgrade difficulty when trying to remove it.
Overclocking Limits
It also has limits to the speeds you can enjoy since its overclocking capability has limits setting s cap for a speed boost. The results you get after overclocking this processor will likely be insignificant compared to higher-end processors on the market.
Graphic Performance Limitation
The integrated graphics that Intel core i3 offers will serve your operations but can’t do much compared to dedicated graphics. You will need to get a dedicated graphics card if your operations are more demanding and you want the most of your PC.
Differences Between Intel Celeron and Intel Core i3
| Features | Intel Celeron | Intel Core i3 |
| Core Count | 2 | 2 to 4 |
| Thread Count | 2 | 4 to 8 |
| Clock Speed | 1.1GHz to 2.8GHz | 2.2GHz to 4.6GHz |
| Thermal Design Power | 6W to 35W | 15W to 65W |
| Integrated Graphics | Yes | Yes |
| Socket | BGA, LGA | LGA |
| Manufacturing Process | 14nm, 10nm | 14nm, 10nm |
| Cache Size | 1MB to 4MB | 4MB to 8MB |
| Graphics Base Frequency | 300MHz to 1050MHz | 350MHz to1500MHz |
| Maximum Memory Supported | 8GB to 16GB | 32GB to 64GB |
| Virtualization Technology | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing (USD) | $42 to $100 | $110 to $220 |
| AES-NI | No | Yes |
| Quick Sync Video Technology | Yes | Yes |
| Hyper-Threading Technology | No | Yes |
| Supported Memory Type | DDR4, LPDDR4 | DDR4, LPDDR4 |
Clock Speeds
Intel core i3 completes operations faster than the Celeron processor due to the difference in the clock speeds between them. Celeron has a speed ranging between 1.1GHz to 2.8GHz, while intel core i3 speed is between 2.2GHz to 4.6GHz. The difference makes Celeron serve you for basic tasks but will lose to Intel core i3 when handling more intensive operations.
Pricing
Celeron Is manufactured to be budget-friendly, making it fall among the cheapest components you can find on the market. On the other hand, Intel core i3 satisfies more demands but has its pricing set above that of Celeron despite being affordable. You can get a Celeron processor for prices between $42 to $100, while Intel core i3 prices go from $110 to $230.
Thermal Design
The thermal design of both offer different results based on performance, with Celeron consuming less power and generating less heat. Celeron has its TDP set at 6W to 35W, which is lower than the Intel core i3 set at 15W to 65W. Intel core i3 also generates more heat proportional to the performance it offers, which is higher than Celeron.
Memory Support
Intel core i3 gives better support in terms of memory as its capable of handling 32GB to 64GB maximum memory. On the other hand, Celeron can only handle a maximum memory between 8GB and 16GB creating a gap between processors. The gap reduces Celeron’s ability to handle memory-intensive operations compared to Intel core i3 increasing the demand in the market.
Hyper-Threading
Celeron doesn’t have hyper-threading support, which makes it lose out in efficiency when handling multiple operations simultaneously during use. However, Intel core i3 supports this feature and easily handles multiple operations running at the same time on your computer. However, it tends to struggle depending on how high the demands of the operation are when handling them.
Threads and Cores
The Intel core i3 is manufactured with more threads and cores than Celeron, which makes it perform better when compared. Celeron has a max of 2 cores and threads each, while Intel core i3 comes with 2 to 4 cores and 4 to 8 lines. This feature increases the performance of the Intel core i3, making it more efficient and reliable than the Celeron processor.
Final thoughts: Which Should You Pick?
Both the Intel Celeron and Core i3 serve you well, but it depends on your needs and finances at the time. If you are looking for a processor for simple tasks like document creation and editing, then Intel Celeron is your best option. It’s also the best choice if you do not have much to spend on a processor with higher specifications.
However, you should consider the Intel core i3 if your operations demand high performance, memory, or graphical requirements. It might appear pricey compared to the Intel Celeron but it’s the best match for memory-intensive operations.
