Athlon II X2 270 vs Celeron N2840

Athlon II X2 270 vs Celeron N2840 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 270

2 / 2

1,333

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron N2840

2 / 2

1,331

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 270 vs Celeron N2840 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 270 vs Celeron N2840: 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 270

2011

Why buy it

✅+70.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Celeron N2840.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $72 MSRP, while Celeron N2840 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌828.6% higher power demand at 65W vs 7W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron N2840 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron N2840

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 7W instead of 65W, a 58W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail), while Athlon II X2 270 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (230 vs 392).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (430 vs 686).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 270.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 270 better than Celeron N2840?

Yes. Athlon II X2 270 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 59.5% better Geekbench multi-core, and 0.2% higher 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 270 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% 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 270 is the stronger fit. You are getting 59.5% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon II X2 270 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 270 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $72 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (18.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 N2840 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2014 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X2 270 vs Celeron N2840 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 270

The Athlon II X2 270 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 July 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,333 points. Launch price was $100.

Celeron N2840

The Celeron N2840 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.16 GHz, with boost up to 2.58 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,331 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 270 and Celeron N2840 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270 versus 2.58 GHz on the Celeron N2840 — a 27.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 270 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.16 GHz). The Athlon II X2 270 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N2840 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 270 scores 1,333 against the Celeron N2840's 1,331 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X2 270. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 392 vs 230, a 52.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 270 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 686 vs 430 (45.9% advantage for the Athlon II X2 270). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X2 270	Celeron N2840
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.4 GHz+32%	2.58 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+57%	2.16 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)
PassMark	1,333	1,331
Geekbench 6 Single	392+70%	230
Geekbench 6 Multi	686+60%	430

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 270 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N2840 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to 1333 memory speed. The Athlon II X2 270 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 X2 270) vs 4 (Celeron N2840) — the Celeron N2840 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 270) and SoC (Celeron N2840).

Feature	Athlon II X2 270	Celeron N2840
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	1333	DDR3L-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	4

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 270) vs VT-x (Celeron N2840). The Celeron N2840 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)), while the Athlon II X2 270 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron N2840 targets Netbook. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 270 rivals Pentium E6700; Celeron N2840 rivals AMD A6-6310.