Athlon X2 QL-60 vs Celeron N3060

Athlon X2 QL-60 vs Celeron N3060 Performance Spectrum

Athlon X2 QL-60

2 / 2

1,273

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron N3060

2 / 2

1,267

0.0%

Celeron N3000

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

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 X2 QL-60 vs Celeron N3060 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 X2 QL-60 vs Celeron N3060: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon X2 QL-60

2008

Why buy it

✅+0.5% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 1W instead of 6W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron N3060 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron N3060

2016

Why buy it

✅100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 400, while Athlon X2 QL-60 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,267 vs 1,273).
❌Launch MSRP is still $107 MSRP, while Athlon X2 QL-60 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌500% higher power demand at 6W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron N3060 better than Athlon X2 QL-60?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Celeron N3060 is ahead with a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X2 QL-60 pulls ahead with 0.5% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon X2 QL-60 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Celeron N3060 is the better buy right now. Celeron N3060 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $107 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. The compromise is that Athlon X2 QL-60 is still stronger for heavier multi-core work with 0.5% better PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (11.8 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), 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 N3060 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X2 QL-60 vs Celeron N3060 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X2 QL-60

The Athlon X2 QL-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,273 points. Launch price was $149.

Celeron N3060

The Celeron N3060 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 15 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Braswell (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.48 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,267 points. Launch price was $107.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon X2 QL-60 and Celeron N3060 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-60 versus 2.48 GHz on the Celeron N3060 — a 26.5% clock advantage for the Celeron N3060. The Athlon X2 QL-60 uses the Lion (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Celeron N3060 uses Braswell (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-60 scores 1,273 against the Celeron N3060's 1,267 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon X2 QL-60. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-60	Celeron N3060
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.9 GHz	2.48 GHz+31%
Base Clock	—	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	1 MB
Process	65 nm	14 nm-78%
Architecture	Lion (2008−2009)	Braswell (2015−2016)
PassMark	1,273	1,267

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 QL-60 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N3060 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-60 versus 1600 on the Celeron N3060 — the Celeron N3060 supports 139.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon X2 QL-60) vs 4 (Celeron N3060) — the Celeron N3060 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-60) and FCBGA1170 (Celeron N3060).

Feature	Athlon X2 QL-60	Celeron N3060
Socket	S1	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	1600+140%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	4

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X2 QL-60) / true (Celeron N3060). The Celeron N3060 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 400), while the Athlon X2 QL-60 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Celeron N3060 rivals AMD E2-9010.