Celeron 2.80 vs Xeon 2.66
Celeron 2.80
Xeon 2.66
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 Xeon 2.66 is on rank 1028, so the Xeon 2.66 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 Xeon 2.66
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2.80 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Northwood (2002−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Prestonia (2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2.80 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+56%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 Xeon 2.66
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.
Xeon 2.66
The Xeon 2.66 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Prestonia (2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 445 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron 2.80 and Xeon 2.66 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Celeron 2.80 versus 2.66 GHz on the Xeon 2.66 — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Celeron 2.80. The Celeron 2.80 uses the Northwood (2002−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Xeon 2.66 uses Prestonia (2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2.80 scores 428 against the Xeon 2.66's 445 — a 3.9% lead for the Xeon 2.66. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+5% | 2.66 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 128 kB | 512 kB+300% |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Northwood (2002−2004) | Prestonia (2002) |
| PassMark | 428 | 445+4% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2.80 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon 2.66 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR1-400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: No (Celeron 2.80) / not specified (Xeon 2.66). Primary use case: Celeron 2.80 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.80 rivals Pentium 4 2.80.
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | No | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 2.80 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Xeon 2.66 debuted at $337. At current prices ($15 vs $10), the Xeon 2.66 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron 2.80 delivers 28.5 pts/$ vs 44.5 pts/$ for the Xeon 2.66 — making the Xeon 2.66 the 43.7% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron 2.80 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-70% | $337 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $10-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.5 | 44.5+56% |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2002 |
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