Athlon 220GE vs Celeron G6900

AMD

Athlon 220GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2018
Similar parts
·······
VS
Intel

Celeron G6900

2 Cores2 Thrd46 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2022
Similar parts
·······

Athlon 220GE vs Celeron G6900 Performance Spectrum

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.

Athlon 220GE vs Celeron G6900 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 220GE vs Celeron G6900: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 220GE

2018

Why buy it

  • Draws 35W instead of 46W, a 11W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (886 vs 1,563).
  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (2,023 vs 2,631).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 68.3 vs 85.7 PassMark/$ ($65 MSRP vs $52 MSRP).
  • Older platform position on AM4 with DDR4, while Celeron G6900 moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.

Celeron G6900

2022

Why buy it

  • +76.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
  • Costs $13 less on MSRP ($52 MSRP vs $65 MSRP).
  • Delivers 25.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 85.7 vs 68.3 PassMark/$ ($52 MSRP vs $65 MSRP).
  • Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of AM4 and DDR4.
  • 150% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • 31.4% higher power demand at 46W vs 35W.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G6900 better than Athlon 220GE?
Yes. Celeron G6900 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 30 shared CPU game tests in our data, 30.1% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.4% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Celeron G6900 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.3% more average FPS across 30 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G6900 is the stronger fit. You are getting 30.1% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Celeron G6900 is the better buy right now. Celeron G6900 comes in $13 cheaper on MSRP at $52 MSRP versus $65 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 30 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 25.5% better value on MSRP (85.7 vs 68.3 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper. That said, if you already own a compatible AM4 + DDR4 setup, Athlon 220GE can still make sense as a platform-matched option because it avoids a motherboard and RAM swap, but on MSRP alone you would want to find it meaningfully cheaper in real-world listings before that path becomes easy to justify.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron G6900 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2018), a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of AM4, and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Athlon 220GE vs Celeron G6900 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

Athlon 220GE

The Athlon 220GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 4,441 points. Launch price was $65.

Intel

Celeron G6900

The Celeron G6900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 46 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 4,458 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Athlon 220GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G6900's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon 220GE versus 3.4 GHz on the Celeron G6900 — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.4 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Athlon 220GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Celeron G6900 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 220GE scores 4,441 against the Celeron G6900's 4,458 — a 0.4% lead for the Celeron G6900. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 886 vs 1,563, a 55.3% lead for the Celeron G6900 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,023 vs 2,631 (26.1% advantage for the Celeron G6900). Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon 220GECeleron G6900
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz
3.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz
3.4 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
4 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+40860%
1.25 MB (per core)
Process
14 nm
Intel 7 nm-50%
Architecture
Zen (2017−2020)
Alder Lake-S (2022)
PassMark
4,441
4,458
Geekbench 6 Single
886
1,563+76%
Geekbench 6 Multi
2,023
2,631+30%
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon 220GE uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron G6900 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2667 on the Athlon 220GE versus DDR5-4800 on the Celeron G6900 — the Celeron G6900 supports 80% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G6900 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (Athlon 220GE) vs 20 (Celeron G6900) — the Celeron G6900 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370,B450,X470 (Athlon 220GE) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Celeron G6900).

FeatureAthlon 220GECeleron G6900
Socket
AM4
LGA1700
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2667
DDR5-4800+80%
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
128 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
8
20+150%
🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 220GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 220GE) vs VT-x (Celeron G6900). Both include integrated graphics Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 220GE) and UHD Graphics 710 (Celeron G6900) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 220GE targets Desktop, Celeron G6900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon 220GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Celeron G6900 rivals Pentium Gold G7400.

FeatureAthlon 220GECeleron G6900
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon Vega 3
UHD Graphics 710
Unlocked
Yes
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x
Target Use
Desktop
Budget
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 220GE was priced at $65, while the Celeron G6900 came in at $52. On launch pricing ($65 vs $52), Celeron G6900 was $13 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 220GE delivers 68.3 pts/$ vs 85.7 pts/$ for the Celeron G6900 — making the Celeron G6900 the 22.6% better value option.

FeatureAthlon 220GECeleron G6900
MSRP
$65
$52-20%
Performance per Dollar
68.3
85.7+25%
Release Date
2018
2022

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.