Athlon X2 QL-66 vs Celeron G1820

AMD

Athlon X2 QL-66

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2009
VS
Intel

Celeron G1820

2 Cores2 Thrd54 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2013

Athlon X2 QL-66 vs Celeron G1820 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 X2 QL-66 vs Celeron G1820 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-66 vs Celeron G1820: 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-66

2009

Why buy it

  • βœ…Draws 1W instead of 54W, a 53W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (1,695 vs 1,696).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.3 vs 15.4 PassMark/$ ($150 MSRP vs $110 MSRP).
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron G1820 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron G1820

2013

Why buy it

  • βœ…Costs $40 less on MSRP ($110 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
  • βœ…Delivers 36.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.4 vs 11.3 PassMark/$ ($110 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Haswell), while Athlon X2 QL-66 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌5300% higher power demand at 54W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G1820 better than Athlon X2 QL-66?
Yes. Celeron G1820 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Celeron G1820 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.1% 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, Celeron G1820 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Celeron G1820 is the better buy right now. Celeron G1820 comes in $40 cheaper on MSRP at $110 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 36.4% better value on MSRP (15.4 vs 11.3 PassMark/$), 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 G1820 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon X2 QL-66 vs Celeron G1820 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon X2 QL-66

The Athlon X2 QL-66 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lion (2008βˆ’2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1g2. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,695 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Celeron G1820

The Celeron G1820 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013βˆ’2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1150. Thermal design power (TDP): 53 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,696 points. Launch price was $110.

⚑

Processing Power

Both the Athlon X2 QL-66 and Celeron G1820 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon X2 QL-66 versus 2.7 GHz on the Celeron G1820 β€” a 20.4% clock advantage for the Celeron G1820. The Athlon X2 QL-66 uses the Lion (2008βˆ’2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Celeron G1820 uses Haswell (2013βˆ’2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 QL-66 scores 1,695 against the Celeron G1820's 1,696 β€” a 0.1% lead for the Celeron G1820.

FeatureAthlon X2 QL-66Celeron G1820
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.2 GHz
2.7 GHz+23%
Base Clock
β€”
2.7 GHz
L3 Cache
β€”
2 MB
L2 Cache
1 MB+300%
256 kB (per core)
Process
65 nm
22 nm-66%
Architecture
Lion (2008βˆ’2009)
Haswell (2013βˆ’2015)
PassMark
1,695
1,696
Geekbench 6 Single
β€”
496
Geekbench 6 Multi
β€”
910
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon X2 QL-66 uses the S1g2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G1820 uses LGA1150 (PCIe 3.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon X2 QL-66 versus DDR3-1333 on the Celeron G1820 β€” the Celeron G1820 supports 99.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G1820 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB β€” 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon X2 QL-66) vs 16 (Celeron G1820) β€” the Celeron G1820 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD S1 (Athlon X2 QL-66) and H81,B85,H87,Z87,H97,Z97 (Celeron G1820).

FeatureAthlon X2 QL-66Celeron G1820
Socket
S1g2
LGA1150
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-667
DDR3-1333+100%
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
32 GB+300%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
0
16
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X2 QL-66) / VT-x (Celeron G1820). The Celeron G1820 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Athlon X2 QL-66 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1820 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G1820 rivals Pentium G3220.

FeatureAthlon X2 QL-66Celeron G1820
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
β€”
HD Graphics (Haswell)
Unlocked
β€”
No
AVX-512
β€”
No
Virtualization
β€”
VT-x
Target Use
β€”
Budget
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon X2 QL-66 was priced at $150, while the Celeron G1820 came in at $110. On launch pricing ($150 vs $110), Celeron G1820 was $40 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 QL-66 delivers 11.3 pts/$ vs 15.4 pts/$ for the Celeron G1820 β€” making the Celeron G1820 the 30.8% better value option.

FeatureAthlon X2 QL-66Celeron G1820
MSRP
$150
$110-27%
Performance per Dollar
11.3
15.4+36%
Release Date
2009
2013

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