Athlon II X2 235e vs Celeron 1000M

AMD

Athlon II X2 235e

2 Cores2 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2009
VS
Intel

Celeron 1000M

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2013
Similar parts
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Athlon II X2 235e vs Celeron 1000M 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 II X2 235e vs Celeron 1000M 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 235e vs Celeron 1000M: 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 235e

2009

Why buy it

  • Costs $17 less on MSRP ($69 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
  • Delivers 25.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.6 vs 12.4 PassMark/$ ($69 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
  • Draws 45W instead of 512W, a 467W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Celeron 1000M.

Trade-offs

  • No integrated graphics, while Celeron 1000M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron 1000M

2013

Why buy it

  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge), while Athlon II X2 235e needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,070 vs 1,079).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 15.6 PassMark/$ ($86 MSRP vs $69 MSRP).
  • 1037.8% higher power demand at 512W vs 45W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 235e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 235e better than Celeron 1000M?
Yes. Athlon II X2 235e 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 0.8% 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 235e 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 X2 235e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II X2 235e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 235e comes in $17 cheaper on MSRP at $69 MSRP versus $86 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 25.7% better value on MSRP (15.6 vs 12.4 PassMark/$), 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 1000M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X2 235e vs Celeron 1000M Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X2 235e

The Athlon II X2 235e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,079 points. Launch price was $84.

Intel

Celeron 1000M

The Celeron 1000M 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: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,070 points. Launch price was $86.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 235e and Celeron 1000M share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 235e versus 1.8 GHz on the Celeron 1000M — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 235e (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon II X2 235e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 1000M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 235e scores 1,079 against the Celeron 1000M's 1,070 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X2 235e. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 235e vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 1000M.

FeatureAthlon II X2 235eCeleron 1000M
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.7 GHz+50%
1.8 GHz
Base Clock
2.7 GHz+50%
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
2 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB
256K (per core)+25500%
Process
45 nm
22 nm-51%
Architecture
Regor (2009−2013)
Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark
1,079
1,070
Geekbench 6 Single
240
Geekbench 6 Multi
450
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 235e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 1000M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 235e versus DDR3-1600 on the Celeron 1000M — the Celeron 1000M supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 1000M 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 235e) vs 16 (Celeron 1000M) — the Celeron 1000M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 235e) and Intel FCPGA988 (Celeron 1000M).

FeatureAthlon II X2 235eCeleron 1000M
Socket
AM3
PGA988
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
DDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
32 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
No
PCIe Lanes
0
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 235e) / not specified (Celeron 1000M). The Celeron 1000M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)), while the Athlon II X2 235e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 235e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 235e rivals Pentium E5300.

FeatureAthlon II X2 235eCeleron 1000M
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 235e was priced at $69, while the Celeron 1000M came in at $86. On launch pricing ($69 vs $86), Athlon II X2 235e was $17 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 235e delivers 15.6 pts/$ vs 12.4 pts/$ for the Celeron 1000M — making the Athlon II X2 235e the 22.8% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X2 235eCeleron 1000M
MSRP
$69-20%
$86
Performance per Dollar
15.6+26%
12.4
Release Date
2009
2013

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