Celeron 2.60 vs Ryzen 5 3600
Celeron 2.60
Ryzen 5 3600
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. The Celeron 2.60 is positioned at rank #1045 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2.60
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2.60 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Northwood (2002−2004) / 130 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2.60 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+474%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 2.60 and Ryzen 5 3600
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.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2.60 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 5 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Celeron 2.60 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 47.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600. The Celeron 2.60 uses the Northwood (2002−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2.60 scores 385 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 191.5% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Celeron 2.60 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | Celeron 2.60 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 6 / 12+500% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz+62% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 128 kB | 512K (per core)+300% |
| Process | 130 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-95% |
| Architecture | Northwood (2002−2004) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 385 | 17,685+4494% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,295 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 1,898 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2.60 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-400 on the Celeron 2.60 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 5 3600 — the Ryzen 5 3600 supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 187.9% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Celeron 2.60) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600). PCIe lanes: 0 (Celeron 2.60) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 845,865,915 (Celeron 2.60) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | Celeron 2.60 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 4.0+264% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-400 | DDR4-3200+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 128 GB+3100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 24 |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: No (Celeron 2.60) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). Primary use case: Celeron 2.60 targets Budget, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.60 rivals Pentium 4 2.40; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | Celeron 2.60 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | No | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 2.60 launched at $53 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($10 vs $80), the Celeron 2.60 is $70 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron 2.60 delivers 38.5 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 140.7% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron 2.60 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $53-73% | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-88% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 38.5 | 221.1+474% |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2019 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Celeron 2.60 and Ryzen 5 3600
