Athlon II X2 220 vs Celeron 1037U

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X2 220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Celeron 1037U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2013

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Athlon II X2 220 vs Celeron 1037U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 220

2 / 2

1,046

+1.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron 1037U

2 / 2

1,034

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 X2 220 vs Celeron 1037U 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 X2 220 vs Celeron 1037U: 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 X2 220

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Celeron 1037U.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (285 vs 324).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (500 vs 626).
❌Launch MSRP is still $32 MSRP, while Celeron 1037U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron 1037U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron 1037U

2013

Why buy it

✅+13.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), while Athlon II X2 220 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 220.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron 1037U better than Athlon II X2 220?

Yes. Celeron 1037U 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, 25.2% better Geekbench multi-core, 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 1037U 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, Celeron 1037U is the stronger fit. You are getting 25.2% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron 1037U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Celeron 1037U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X2 220 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (32.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Celeron 1037U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X2 220 vs Celeron 1037U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 220

The Athlon II X2 220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,046 points. Launch price was $32.

Celeron 1037U

The Celeron 1037U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,034 points. Launch price was $86.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 220 and Celeron 1037U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 versus 1.8 GHz on the Celeron 1037U — a 43.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 220 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon II X2 220 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 1037U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 220 scores 1,046 against the Celeron 1037U's 1,034 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon II X2 220. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 285 vs 324, a 12.8% lead for the Celeron 1037U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 626 (22.4% advantage for the Celeron 1037U). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 220 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 1037U.

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Celeron 1037U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+56%	1.8 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+56%	1.8 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB (total)
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256K (per core)
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark	1,046+1%	1,034
Geekbench 6 Single	285	324+14%
Geekbench 6 Multi	500	626+25%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 220 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 1037U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 versus DDR3-1600 on the Celeron 1037U — the Celeron 1037U supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 1037U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 220) vs 16 (Celeron 1037U) — the Celeron 1037U offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220) and HM70,NM70,HM76 (Celeron 1037U).

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Celeron 1037U
Socket	AM3	BGA1023
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1333	DDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 220) vs VT-x, EPT (Celeron 1037U). The Celeron 1037U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)), while the Athlon II X2 220 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 1037U targets Budget Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500; Celeron 1037U rivals AMD E1-2500.