Celeron 2.80 vs Celeron 420
Celeron 2.80
Celeron 420
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 2.80 is positioned at rank 1076 and the Celeron 420 is on rank 982, so the Celeron 420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2.80
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2.80 | Celeron 420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Northwood (2002−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe-L (2007−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2.80 | Celeron 420 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 2.80 and Celeron 420
Celeron 2.80
The Celeron 2.80 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: 2.8 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: 428 points. Launch price was $69.
Celeron 420
The Celeron 420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Conroe-L (2007−2008) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 425 points. Launch price was $23.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron 2.80 and Celeron 420 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Celeron 2.80 versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 420 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Celeron 2.80. The Celeron 2.80 uses the Northwood (2002−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Celeron 420 uses Conroe-L (2007−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2.80 scores 428 against the Celeron 420's 425 — a 0.7% lead for the Celeron 2.80. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Celeron 420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+75% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 128 kB | 512 kB (total)+300% |
| Process | 130 nm | 65 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Northwood (2002−2004) | Conroe-L (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 428 | 425 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2.80 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron 420 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR1-400 on the Celeron 2.80 versus DDR2-800 on the Celeron 420 — the Celeron 420 supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 420 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Celeron 2.80) vs 2 (Celeron 420). Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 845,848,865,875 (Celeron 2.80) and 945,G31,G41 (Celeron 420).
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Celeron 420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR1-400 | DDR2-800+100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 16 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support No virtualization. Primary use case: Celeron 2.80 targets Budget, Celeron 420 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.80 rivals Pentium 4 2.80; Celeron 420 rivals Pentium 4 2.80.
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Celeron 420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | No | No |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 2.80 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Celeron 420 debuted at $39. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Celeron 420 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron 2.80 delivers 28.5 pts/$ vs 28.3 pts/$ for the Celeron 420 — making the Celeron 2.80 the 0.7% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Celeron 420 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $39-61% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.5 | 28.3 |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2007 |
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