Celeron 2.60
VS
Atom Z550

Celeron 2.60 vs Atom Z550

Intel

Celeron 2.60

1 Cores1 Thrd73 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2003
VS
Intel

Atom Z550

1 Cores2 Thrd2.4 WWMax: 2 GHz2009

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 2.60 is positioned at rank 1045 and the Atom Z550 is on rank 592, so the Atom Z550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2.60

#1
Ryzen 9 7950X
MSRP: $194|Avg: $20
42936%
#2
Core i9-10900T
MSRP: $120|Avg: $5
40570%
#3
Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP: $423|Avg: $5
29457%
#4
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85
8874%
#5
Ryzen 9 9950X
MSRP: $649|Avg: $129
7029%
#6
Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP: $303|Avg: $55
6149%
#7
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $60
3522%
#8
Ryzen 5 2600X
MSRP: $229|Avg: $55
3476%
#9
Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $60
3165%
#10
Core Ultra 5 245KF
MSRP: $294|Avg: $189
3165%
#11
Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP: $159|Avg: $85
3129%
#12
Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $80
3045%
#13
Core i3-9100E
MSRP: $202|Avg: $30
3002%
#14
Core Ultra 5 245K
MSRP: $319|Avg: $200
2990%
#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
2963%
#1045
Celeron 2.60
MSRP: $53|Avg: $10
100%
#1046
Core i7-990X
MSRP: $999|Avg: $225
98%
#1047
Phenom X4 9750B
MSRP: $215|Avg: $34
97%
#1048
Core 2 Duo E8200
MSRP: $163|Avg: $20
97%
#1049
Core 2 Quad Q9450
MSRP: $316|Avg: $15
96%
#1050
Core 2 Duo E8600
MSRP: $200|Avg: $95
95%
#1051
Core 2 Duo E6320
MSRP: $163|Avg: $5
94%
#1052
Core i7-980X
MSRP: $999|Avg: $150
94%
#1053
Athlon 64 X2 3600+
MSRP: $150|Avg: $10
94%
#1054
Core 2 Duo E6420
MSRP: $183|Avg: $10
93%
#1055
Pentium D 940
MSRP: $132|Avg: $15
91%
#1056
Phenom X4 9600B
MSRP: $278|Avg: $20
91%
#1057
Phenom II X3 B77
MSRP: $281|Avg: $35
90%
#1058
Core 2 Duo E6300
MSRP: $163|Avg: $5
89%
#1059
Core 2 Duo E6400
MSRP: $183|Avg: $10
88%
#1060
Core 2 Duo E8300
MSRP: $163|Avg: $20
88%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Atom Z550

#184
Core Ultra 7 266V
MSRP: $520|Avg: $520
99%
#580
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
782%
#581
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
771%
#582
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
708%
#583
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
705%
#584
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
698%
#586
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
674%
#587
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
646%
#588
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
645%
#589
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
628%
#592
Atom Z550
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Atom Z550 (2009) utilizes 45 nm technology and unknown, providing a fundamental performance advantage.
InsightCeleron 2.60Atom Z550
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Better multi-core power
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($10)
More affordable ($0)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Northwood (2002−2004) / 130 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Celeron 2.60 (2003) relies on 130 nm technology and DDR1, DDR2, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.
InsightCeleron 2.60Atom Z550
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($10)
More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 2.60 and Atom Z550

Intel

Celeron 2.60

The Celeron 2.60 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Northwood (2002−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 128 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 385 points. Launch price was $69.

Intel

Atom Z550

The Atom Z550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 April 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA441. Thermal design power (TDP): 2.4 Watt. Memory support: unknown. Passmark benchmark score: 375 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

The Celeron 2.60 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, matching the Atom Z550's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Celeron 2.60 versus 2 GHz on the Atom Z550 — a 26.1% clock advantage for the Celeron 2.60. The Celeron 2.60 uses the Northwood (2002−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Atom Z550 uses Silverthorne (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2.60 scores 385 against the Atom Z550's 375 — a 2.6% lead for the Celeron 2.60. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureCeleron 2.60Atom Z550
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
1 / 2
Boost Clock
2.6 GHz+30%
2 GHz
Base Clock
2 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
128 kB
512 kB (per core)+300%
Process
130 nm
45 nm-65%
Architecture
Northwood (2002−2004)
Silverthorne (2008−2010)
PassMark
385+3%
375
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Celeron 2.60 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom Z550 uses PBGA441 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-400 memory speed. The Celeron 2.60 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: 845,865,915 (Celeron 2.60) and Intel US15W (Atom Z550).

FeatureCeleron 2.60Atom Z550
Socket
PGA478
PBGA441
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-400
DDR2-533
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB+100%
2 GB
RAM Channels
1
1
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
0
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: No (Celeron 2.60) / not specified (Atom Z550). Primary use case: Celeron 2.60 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.60 rivals Pentium 4 2.40.

FeatureCeleron 2.60Atom Z550
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
No
Target Use
Budget