Athlon 240GE vs Celeron G6900

AMD

Athlon 240GE

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2018
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Celeron G6900

2 Cores2 Thrd46 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2022
Similar parts
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Athlon 240GE 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 240GE 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 240GE 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 240GE

2018

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +3.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Draws 35W instead of 46W, a 11W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Included), unlike Celeron G6900.

Trade-offs

  • Lower Geekbench multi-core (2,200 vs 2,631).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 60.8 vs 85.7 PassMark/$ ($75 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

  • +19.6% higher Geekbench multi-core.
  • Costs $23 less on MSRP ($52 MSRP vs $75 MSRP).
  • Delivers 41.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 85.7 vs 60.8 PassMark/$ ($52 MSRP vs $75 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

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 240GE across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 31.4% higher power demand at 46W vs 35W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 240GE.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G6900 better than Athlon 240GE?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon 240GE is ahead with a 3.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G6900 pulls ahead with 19.6% better Geekbench multi-core.
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 19.6% 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 $23 cheaper on MSRP at $52 MSRP versus $75 MSRP, and it still gives you 19.6% better Geekbench multi-core. The compromise is that Athlon 240GE is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 3.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 41.0% better value on MSRP (85.7 vs 60.8 PassMark/$), 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 240GE 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 240GE vs Celeron G6900 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon 240GE

The Athlon 240GE is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 December 2018 (6 years ago). It is based on the Zen (2017−2020) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 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: 4,561 points. Launch price was $75.

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 240GE packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron G6900's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon 240GE versus 3.4 GHz on the Celeron G6900 — a 2.9% clock advantage for the Athlon 240GE (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Athlon 240GE uses the Zen (2017−2020) architecture (14 nm), while the Celeron G6900 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 240GE scores 4,561 against the Celeron G6900's 4,458 — a 2.3% lead for the Athlon 240GE. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 930 vs 1,563, a 50.8% lead for the Celeron G6900 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 2,200 vs 2,631 (17.8% advantage for the Celeron G6900). Both processors carry 4 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon 240GECeleron G6900
Cores / Threads
2 / 4
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.5 GHz+3%
3.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.5 GHz+3%
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
4,561+2%
4,458
Geekbench 6 Single
930
1,563+68%
Geekbench 6 Multi
2,200
2,631+20%
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 240GE 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 DDR4-2666 on the Athlon 240GE 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 240GE) vs 20 (Celeron G6900) — the Celeron G6900 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B450 (Athlon 240GE) and H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,H770,Z790 (Celeron G6900).

FeatureAthlon 240GECeleron G6900
Socket
AM4
LGA1700
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 5.0+67%
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2666
DDR5-4800+80%
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
128 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
8
20+150%
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Advanced Features

Only the Athlon 240GE has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon 240GE) vs VT-x (Celeron G6900). Both include integrated graphics Radeon Vega 3 (Athlon 240GE) and UHD Graphics 710 (Celeron G6900) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon 240GE targets Budget Desktop, Celeron G6900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon 240GE rivals Pentium Gold G5400; Celeron G6900 rivals Pentium Gold G7400.

FeatureAthlon 240GECeleron 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
Budget Desktop
Budget
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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 240GE was priced at $75, while the Celeron G6900 came in at $52. On launch pricing ($75 vs $52), Celeron G6900 was $23 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 240GE delivers 60.8 pts/$ vs 85.7 pts/$ for the Celeron G6900 — making the Celeron G6900 the 34% better value option.

FeatureAthlon 240GECeleron G6900
MSRP
$75
$52-31%
Performance per Dollar
60.8
85.7+41%
Release Date
2018
2022

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