Athlon II N350 vs Celeron 2981U

CPU

GPU

Athlon II N350

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Celeron 2981U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2014

Similar parts

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Athlon II N350 vs Celeron 2981U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N350

2 / 2

1,045

+0.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron 2981U

2 / 2

1,036

0.0%

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 II N350 vs Celeron 2981U 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 II N350 vs Celeron 2981U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II N350

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $37 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $137 MSRP).
✅Delivers 38.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 10.4 vs 7.6 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $137 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 512W, a 511W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron 2981U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron 2981U

2014

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (12 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Haswell), while Athlon II N350 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,036 vs 1,045).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.6 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($137 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
❌51100% higher power demand at 512W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II N350 better than Celeron 2981U?

Yes. Athlon II N350 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II N350 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II N350 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon II N350 is the better buy right now. Athlon II N350 comes in $37 cheaper on MSRP at $100 MSRP versus $137 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 38.2% better value on MSRP (10.4 vs 7.6 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron 2981U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II N350 vs Celeron 2981U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II N350

The Athlon II N350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,045 points. Launch price was $149.

Celeron 2981U

The Celeron 2981U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,036 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II N350 and Celeron 2981U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon II N350 versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon II N350. The Athlon II N350 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 2981U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N350 scores 1,045 against the Celeron 2981U's 1,036 — a 0.9% lead for the Athlon II N350.

Feature	Athlon II N350	Celeron 2981U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz+50%	1.6 GHz
Base Clock	—	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	—	2 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	1,045	1,036
Geekbench 6 Single	210	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	400	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N350 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2981U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II N350 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2981U — the Celeron 2981U supports 50.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 2981U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II N350) vs 12 (Celeron 2981U) — the Celeron 2981U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M,SB850 (Athlon II N350) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U).

Feature	Athlon II N350	Celeron 2981U
Socket	S1	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	DDR3L-1600+50%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	12

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II N350) vs VT-x (Celeron 2981U). The Celeron 2981U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Athlon II N350 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II N350 targets Legacy Laptop, Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II N350 rivals Pentium P6100; Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.

Feature	Athlon II N350	Celeron 2981U
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	—	HD Graphics (Haswell)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x
Target Use	Legacy Laptop	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II N350 was priced at $100, while the Celeron 2981U came in at $137. On launch pricing ($100 vs $137), Athlon II N350 was $37 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N350 delivers 10.4 pts/$ vs 7.6 pts/$ for the Celeron 2981U — making the Athlon II N350 the 32.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II N350	Celeron 2981U
MSRP	$100-27%	$137
Performance per Dollar	10.4+37%	7.6
Release Date	2010	2014

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