Atom Z540 vs Celeron 220

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.

Atom Z540 vs Celeron 220 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.

Atom Z540 vs Celeron 220: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Atom Z540

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 512W, a 510W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (305 vs 320).

Celeron 220

2007

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $42 MSRP, while Atom Z540 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌21233.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 2.4W.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron 220 better than Atom Z540?

Yes. Celeron 220 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 4.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Celeron 220 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 1614.3% higher max boost clock.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 220 is the stronger fit. You are getting 4.9% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

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

Celeron 220 is the better buy right now. Celeron 220 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $42 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 4.9% higher PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (7.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Atom Z540 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2008 vs 2007). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Atom Z540 vs Celeron 220 Technical Specifications

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

Atom Z540

The Atom Z540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA441. Thermal design power (TDP): 2.4 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 305 points. Launch price was $160.

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.

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Processing Power

The Atom Z540 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Celeron 220's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Atom Z540 versus 1.2 GHz on the Celeron 220 — a 178% clock advantage for the Celeron 220 (base: 1.86 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The Atom Z540 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron 220 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z540 scores 305 against the Celeron 220's 320 — a 4.8% lead for the Celeron 220. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Atom Z540	Celeron 220
Cores / Threads	1 / 2	1 / 1
Boost Clock	0.07 GHz	1.2 GHz+1614%
Base Clock	1.86 GHz+55%	1.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512 kB
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Silverthorne (2008−2010)	Conroe (2006−2007)
PassMark	305	320+5%

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Memory & Platform

The Atom Z540 uses the PBGA441 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 220 uses BGA479 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom Z540 versus DDR2-667 on the Celeron 220 — the Celeron 220 supports 25.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 220 supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel US15W (Atom Z540) and 945G,G31,G41 (Celeron 220).

Feature	Atom Z540	Celeron 220
Socket	PBGA441	BGA479
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-533	DDR2-667+25%
Max RAM Capacity	2 GB	4 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	1
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom Z540) / No (Celeron 220). Primary use case: Celeron 220 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 220 rivals Athlon 64 3100+.