Celeron 220 vs Atom Z540
Celeron 220
Atom Z540
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 220 is positioned at rank 1143 and the Atom Z540 is on rank 334, so the Atom Z540 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 220
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 220 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe (2006−2007) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 220 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 220 and Atom Z540
Celeron 220
The Celeron 220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: BGA479. Thermal design power (TDP): 19 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 320 points. Launch price was $69.
Atom Z540
The Atom Z540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA441. Thermal design power (TDP): 2.4 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 305 points. Launch price was $160.
Processing Power
The Celeron 220 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, matching the Atom Z540's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Celeron 220 versus 0.07 GHz on the Atom Z540 — a 178% clock advantage for the Celeron 220 (base: 1.2 GHz vs 1.86 GHz). The Celeron 220 uses the Conroe (2006−2007) architecture (65 nm), while the Atom Z540 uses Silverthorne (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 220 scores 320 against the Atom Z540's 305 — a 4.8% lead for the Celeron 220. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Celeron 220 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz+1614% | 0.07 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 1.86 GHz+55% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Conroe (2006−2007) | Silverthorne (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 320+5% | 305 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 220 uses the BGA479 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom Z540 uses PBGA441 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-667 memory speed. The Celeron 220 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: 945G,G31,G41 (Celeron 220) and Intel US15W (Atom Z540).
| Feature | Celeron 220 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA479 | PBGA441 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | 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 220) / not specified (Atom Z540). Primary use case: Celeron 220 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 220 rivals Athlon 64 3100+.
| Feature | Celeron 220 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | No | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Celeron 220 and Atom Z540
