Athlon II X2 260u vs Celeron P4600
Athlon II X2 260u
Celeron P4600
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II X2 260u is positioned at rank 873 and the Celeron P4600 is on rank 1050, so the Athlon II X2 260u offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 260u
Performance Per Dollar Celeron P4600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 260u | Celeron P4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 260u | Celeron P4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+54%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X2 260u and Celeron P4600
Athlon II X2 260u
The Athlon II X2 260u 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. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 990 points. Launch price was $83.
Celeron P4600
The Celeron P4600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 0.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 965 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 260u and Celeron P4600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 260u versus 0.1 GHz on the Celeron P4600 — a 178.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 260u. The Athlon II X2 260u uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron P4600 uses Westmere (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 260u scores 990 against the Celeron P4600's 965 — a 2.6% lead for the Athlon II X2 260u. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 260u vs 2 MB on the Celeron P4600.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 260u | Celeron P4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz+1700% | 0.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Westmere (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 990+3% | 965 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 260u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron P4600 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 260u versus 1066 on the Celeron P4600 — the Athlon II X2 260u supports 22.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 260u supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 260u) vs 16 (Celeron P4600) — the Celeron P4600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 260u) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Celeron P4600).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 260u | Celeron P4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+25% | 1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16+100% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The Celeron P4600 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II X2 260u requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 260u rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400; Celeron P4600 rivals Pentium P6000.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 260u | Celeron P4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | true |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 260u launched at $60 MSRP, while the Celeron P4600 debuted at $86. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 260u is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 260u delivers 99.0 pts/$ vs 64.3 pts/$ for the Celeron P4600 — making the Athlon II X2 260u the 42.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 260u | Celeron P4600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-30% | $86 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 99.0+54% | 64.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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