Athlon II X2 220 vs Celeron 2981U

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X2 220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Celeron 2981U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2014

Similar parts

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Buy on Amazon

Athlon II X2 220 vs Celeron 2981U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 220

2 / 2

1,046

+1.0%

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 X2 220 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 X2 220 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 X2 220

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $105 less on MSRP ($32 MSRP vs $137 MSRP).
✅Delivers 332.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 32.7 vs 7.6 PassMark/$ ($32 MSRP vs $137 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Celeron 2981U.

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 X2 220 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,036 vs 1,046).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 7.6 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($137 MSRP vs $32 MSRP).
❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 220.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 220 better than Celeron 2981U?

Yes. Athlon II X2 220 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1% 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 X2 220 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 2.2% more average FPS across 40 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X2 220 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon II X2 220 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 220 comes in $105 cheaper on MSRP at $32 MSRP versus $137 MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.2% average FPS lead across 40 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 332.3% better value on MSRP (32.7 vs 7.6 PassMark/$), 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 X2 220 vs Celeron 2981U 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 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 X2 220 and Celeron 2981U share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 220 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon II X2 220 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 2981U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 220 scores 1,046 against the Celeron 2981U's 1,036 — a 1% lead for the Athlon II X2 220. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 220 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U.

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Celeron 2981U
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+75%	1.6 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+75%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	2 MB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Haswell (2013−2015)
PassMark	1,046	1,036
Geekbench 6 Single	285	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	500	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 220 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2981U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 versus DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2981U — the Celeron 2981U supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 220) vs 12 (Celeron 2981U) — the Celeron 2981U offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U).

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Celeron 2981U
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	1333	DDR3L-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	12

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 220) vs VT-x (Celeron 2981U). The Celeron 2981U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Athlon II X2 220 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500; Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Celeron 2981U
Integrated GPU	No	Yes
IGPU Model	None	HD Graphics (Haswell)
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	VT-x
Target Use	—	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 220 was priced at $32, while the Celeron 2981U came in at $137. On launch pricing ($32 vs $137), Athlon II X2 220 was $105 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 220 delivers 32.7 pts/$ vs 7.6 pts/$ for the Celeron 2981U — making the Athlon II X2 220 the 124.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X2 220	Celeron 2981U
MSRP	$32-77%	$137
Performance per Dollar	32.7+330%	7.6
Release Date	2010	2014

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