Celeron 1020E vs Core 2 Duo E6550
Celeron 1020E
Core 2 Duo E6550
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 Celeron 1020E is positioned at rank 951 and the Core 2 Duo E6550 is on rank 1022, so the Celeron 1020E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 1020E
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E6550
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 1020E | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 1020E | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Celeron 1020E and Core 2 Duo E6550
Celeron 1020E
The Celeron 1020E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: G2. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB + 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,406 points. Launch price was $69.
Core 2 Duo E6550
The Core 2 Duo E6550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.33 GHz, with boost up to 2.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,395 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron 1020E and Core 2 Duo E6550 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Celeron 1020E versus 2.33 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E6550 — a 5.7% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E6550 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.33 GHz). The Celeron 1020E uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E6550 uses Conroe (2006−2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 1020E scores 1,406 against the Core 2 Duo E6550's 1,395 — a 0.8% lead for the Celeron 1020E. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 1020E vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Duo E6550.
| Feature | Celeron 1020E | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.33 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.33 GHz+6% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 4 MB+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-66% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Conroe (2006−2007) |
| PassMark | 1,406 | 1,395 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 1020E uses the G2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo E6550 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the Celeron 1020E versus 1333 on the Core 2 Duo E6550 — the Core 2 Duo E6550 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: QM77,HM76 (Celeron 1020E) and P35,G31,G33,P45 (Core 2 Duo E6550).
| Feature | Celeron 1020E | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | G2 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1600 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+104857500% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 1020E) vs true (Core 2 Duo E6550). The Celeron 1020E includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)), while the Core 2 Duo E6550 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 1020E targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 1020E rivals Pentium 2020M; Core 2 Duo E6550 rivals Athlon 64 X2 6000+.
| Feature | Celeron 1020E | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 1020E launched at $86 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E6550 debuted at $163. At current prices ($20 vs $20), the Core 2 Duo E6550 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron 1020E delivers 70.3 pts/$ vs 69.8 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E6550 — making the Celeron 1020E the 0.8% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron 1020E | Core 2 Duo E6550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-47% | $163 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 70.3 | 69.8 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2007 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Celeron 1020E and Core 2 Duo E6550
