CPU
GPU
Atom N280
Celeron 220
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 Atom N280 is positioned at rank 367 and the Celeron 220 is on rank 1143, so the Atom N280 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N280
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 220
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N280 | Celeron 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (DiamondVille (2008−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N280 | Celeron 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
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 Atom N280 and Celeron 220
Atom N280
The Atom N280 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the DiamondVille (2008−2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA437. Thermal design power (TDP): 2.5 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 285 points. Launch price was $69.
Celeron 220
The Celeron 220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 19 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 320 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Atom N280 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Celeron 220's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Atom N280 versus 1.2 GHz on the Celeron 220 — a 178% clock advantage for the Celeron 220 (base: 1.66 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Atom N280 uses the DiamondVille (2008−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 220 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N280 scores 285 against the Celeron 220's 320 — a 11.6% lead for the Celeron 220. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom N280 | Celeron 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 1.2 GHz+1614% |
| Base Clock | 1.66 GHz+38% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | DiamondVille (2008−2009) | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 285 | 320+12% |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N280 uses the PBGA437 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 220 uses BGA479 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-533 memory speed. The Celeron 220 supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel PBGA437 (Atom N280) and 945G,G31,G41 (Celeron 220).
| Feature | Atom N280 | Celeron 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA437 | BGA479 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR2-667 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom N280) / No (Celeron 220). Primary use case: Celeron 220 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 220 rivals Athlon 64 3100+.
| Feature | Atom N280 | Celeron 220 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | No |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
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