
Celeron 2957U

Core 2 Quad Q6700
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 2957U is positioned at rank 53 and the Core 2 Quad Q6700 is on rank 1079, so the Celeron 2957U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2957U
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Quad Q6700
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2957U | Core 2 Quad Q6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kentsfield (2007) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2957U | Core 2 Quad Q6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 2957U and Core 2 Quad Q6700

Celeron 2957U
The Celeron 2957U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 January 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,077 points. Launch price was $107.

Core 2 Quad Q6700
The Core 2 Quad Q6700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Kentsfield (2007) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 8 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,092 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2957U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Core 2 Quad Q6700 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Core 2 Quad Q6700 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.4 GHz on the Celeron 2957U versus 2.67 GHz on the Core 2 Quad Q6700 — a 62.4% clock advantage for the Core 2 Quad Q6700 (base: 1.4 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The Celeron 2957U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Core 2 Quad Q6700 uses Kentsfield (2007) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2957U scores 2,077 against the Core 2 Quad Q6700's 2,092 — a 0.7% lead for the Core 2 Quad Q6700. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2957U vs 0 kB on the Core 2 Quad Q6700.
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core 2 Quad Q6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.67 GHz+91% |
| Base Clock | 1.4 GHz | 2.66 GHz+90% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 8 MB (total)+1500% |
| Process | 22 nm-66% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Kentsfield (2007) |
| PassMark | 2,077 | 2,092 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 284 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2957U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Quad Q6700 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2957U versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Quad Q6700 — the Celeron 2957U supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 2957U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 10 (Celeron 2957U) vs 0 (Core 2 Quad Q6700) — the Celeron 2957U offers 10 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2957U) and P45,G45 (Core 2 Quad Q6700).
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core 2 Quad Q6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 10 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. The Celeron 2957U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Core 2 Quad Q6700 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2957U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2957U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Celeron 2957U | Core 2 Quad Q6700 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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