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Intel Celeron 3865U

Intel Celeron 3865U: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

Updated: April 2025

Architecture and Process Technology: Simplicity and Efficiency

The Intel Celeron 3865U processor, released in 2017, is still found in budget laptops today. It is built on the Kaby Lake architecture using a 14nm process, which feels archaic in 2025 compared to the 5-7nm chips from AMD and Apple. However, its minimalist design remains relevant for devices priced under $400.

Specifications:

- Cores and Threads: 2 cores, 2 threads. No support for Hyper-Threading.

- Clock Speeds: Base - 1.8 GHz. Turbo mode is absent.

- Cache: L3 - 2 MB (minimum for data caching).

- Integrated Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 610 with 12 execution units (EU) and a clock speed of up to 900 MHz.

The Kaby Lake architecture is optimized for energy efficiency but falls short against modern chips in video decoding speeds (supports 4K, but only through the outdated H.264 codec). For comparison, even budget processors in 2025, like the Intel N100, utilize the faster AV1 codec.

Power Consumption and TDP: Balance for Ultrabooks

The processor's TDP is 15W, allowing it to be used in thin laptops without active cooling. For example, devices like the ASUS VivoBook 15 or Lenovo IdeaPad 1 often lack fans, making them completely silent.

However, prolonged workloads (for instance, rendering PDFs or running 10+ tabs in Chrome) could lead to throttling due to overheating. The solution is to choose models with copper heat sinks (e.g., HP 14-dk1000).

Performance: Realistic Expectations

Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 392 points.

- Multi-Core: 693 points.

Real-World Scenarios:

1. Office Work:

- Microsoft Office, Google Workspace — comfortable document handling.

- Running a browser simultaneously (5-7 tabs) + messengers — may experience lag.

- Example: Editing a 500-row Excel spreadsheet takes 15% longer than on an Intel Core i3-1115G4.

2. Multimedia:

- Watching 1080p/4K videos (via YouTube or local files) — smooth playback.

- Photo editing in Lightroom (basic adjustments) — acceptable but exporting 20 images will take 3-4 minutes.

3. Gaming:

- Older games: Half-Life 2, Minecraft (on low settings) — 30-40 FPS.

- Cloud gaming (GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud) — dependent on internet speed, the processor handles it fine.

Turbo Mode: Absent. The clock speed is fixed at 1.8 GHz, ensuring stability but limiting peak performance.

Usage Scenarios: Who is this Processor For?

1. Students:

- Note-taking, online courses, Zoom lectures.

- Laptops with the Celeron 3865U often weigh under 1.5 kg (e.g., Acer Aspire 1), making them convenient to carry in a backpack.

2. Seniors and Children:

- Simple interface, no complex settings needed.

- Sufficient for Skype, email, and reading news.

3. Backup Device:

- An affordable laptop for travel or working in cafes ($250-$350).

Not Suitable For:

- Video editing, 3D modeling, programming in heavy IDEs (IntelliJ, Visual Studio).

- Running modern games, even titles like Fortnite or Genshin Impact.

Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours Without a Socket

Thanks to a 15W TDP and energy-efficient modes, laptops with the Celeron 3865U demonstrate impressive battery life:

- 8-10 hours when working with documents + Wi-Fi.

- 6-7 hours while watching YouTube.

Energy-Saving Technologies:

- Speed Shift: Dynamic switching between C0-C10 states to reduce power consumption during idle time.

- Panel Self Refresh: Reduces CPU load when displaying a static image on the screen.

Tip: Choose models with a battery capacity of at least 40 Wh (e.g., Dell Inspiron 15 3000).

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (2020):

- 2 cores/2 threads, Vega 3 GPU.

- 10-15% faster in multi-threaded tasks.

- Price range of laptops: $300-$400.

2. Apple M1 (2020):

- SoC with 8 cores.

- 4-5 times higher performance, but device prices start at $800.

3. Intel N100 (2023):

- 4 cores, 6W TDP.

- Better at multitasking, supports AV1.

- Laptops based on the N100 start at $350.

Conclusion: The Celeron 3865U in 2025 is a choice only for a strict budget under $300.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low laptop prices ($250-$400).

- Quiet operation (often passive cooling).

- Sufficient for basic tasks: internet, office, Zoom.

Weaknesses:

- No support for modern codecs (AV1, VP9).

- Only 2 MB of L3 cache — slow handling of large data.

- Limited upgradeability: maximum of 8 GB RAM (DDR4-2133).

Recommendations for Laptop Selection

1. Type of Device:

- Ultrabooks: Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (14", 1.3 kg).

- Versatile: HP 15-dw2000 (15.6", HDD + SSD slot).

2. What to Look For:

- Display: IPS matrix at least 1920x1080. Avoid TN!

- Storage: Only SSD (256 GB). HDD will slow the system down.

- RAM: 8 GB minimum for Windows 11.

3. Avoid:

- Laptops with 4 GB of RAM (e.g., Acer Aspire A115-32).

- Models without SSD (e.g., ASUS Laptop X515MA).

Final Verdict

The Intel Celeron 3865U in 2025 is a specialized solution for:

- Users in need of an inexpensive laptop for browsing the web, document work, and communication.

- Situations where light weight and silence are important (e.g., for trips).

- Purchasing a secondary device for uncomplicated tasks.

Key Advantages:

- Price under $350.

- Battery life up to 10 hours.

- Compatibility with Windows 11/Linux.

If your budget allows spending an extra $100-150, consider laptops with the Intel N100 or AMD Ryzen 3 7320U. But for minimal needs, the Celeron 3865U remains relevant.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

January 2017

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

3865U

Code Name

Kaby Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Basic Frequency

1.80 GHz

Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.

Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.

L3 Cache

2 MB

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1356 | FPBGA1356

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

14 nm

TDP

15 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCI Express Version

PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.

2.0

Number of PCI Express Lanes

A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.

Intel 64

Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.

Yes

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

64-bit

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x4 | 2x2 | 1x2+2x1 and 4x1

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

DDR4-2133 | LPDDR3-1866 | DDR3L-1600

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

32 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Bus Speed

4 GT/s

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

34.1 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics 610

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

300 MHz

Graphics Frequency

Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.

900 MHz

Graphics Video Max Memory

32 GB

4K Support

Yes | at 60Hz

DirectX Support

DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.

Max Resolution (HDMI)

Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@24Hz

Max Resolution (DP)

Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.

4096x2304@60Hz

Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)

Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.

4096x2304@60Hz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI

Miscellaneous

Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.

Yes

Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.

Yes

Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)

Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.

Yes

Execute Disable Bit

Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.

Yes

Cache

CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.

2 MB Intel® Smart Cache

Intel AES New Instructions

Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.

Yes

Intel Clear Video HD Technology

Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.

Yes

Intel Clear Video Technology

Yes

Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)

Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.

Yes

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel OS Guard

Yes

OpenGL Support

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.

4.4

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.

Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

392

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

693

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

443

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

839

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1037

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

1314

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Opteron 6348

457 +16.6%

Xeon E5-4603

422 +7.7%

Celeron 3865U

392

Phenom II X4 840

357 -8.9%

Opteron 6284 SE

312 -20.4%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

PRO A10-8750B

945 +36.4%

Core i3-3120M

840 +21.2%

Celeron 3865U

693

Pentium B980

601 -13.3%

Core i3-2377M

500 -27.8%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Pentium G630

479 +8.1%

Core i3-3110M

463 +4.5%

Celeron 3865U

443

Xeon E7-8890 v4

421 -5%

Core i3-2328M

393 -11.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

3015Ce

1001 +19.3%

Celeron 3965U

899 +7.2%

Celeron 3865U

839

PRO A4-8350B

762 -9.2%

Xeon E5-2658 v4

661 -21.2%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Xeon E5-2440

1139 +9.8%

Opteron 6380

1091 +5.2%

Celeron 3865U

1037

A6-3620

988 -4.7%

Celeron 2980U

929 -10.4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium G2120T

1613 +22.8%

A8-3520M

1448 +10.2%

Celeron 3865U

1314

Opteron 2222

1198 -8.8%

Celeron 2980U

1056 -19.6%