Celeron 2981U vs Celeron J1850
Celeron 2981U
Celeron J1850
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 2981U is positioned at rank 426 and the Celeron J1850 is on rank 110, so the Celeron J1850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2981U
Performance Per Dollar Celeron J1850
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | Celeron J1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) | ✅ More affordable ($82) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-D (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | Celeron J1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+67%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) | ✅ More affordable ($82) |
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 2981U and Celeron J1850
Celeron 2981U
The Celeron 2981U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 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: 1,036 points. Launch price was $69.
Celeron J1850
The Celeron J1850 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,035 points. Launch price was $82.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2981U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Celeron J1850 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Celeron J1850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U versus 2 GHz on the Celeron J1850 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Celeron J1850 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Celeron 2981U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron J1850 uses Bay Trail-D (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2981U scores 1,036 against the Celeron J1850's 1,035 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron 2981U. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U vs 2 MB L2 Cache on the Celeron J1850.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Celeron J1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Bay Trail-D (2013) |
| PassMark | 1,036 | 1,035 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 180 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 450 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2981U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron J1850 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1600 memory speed. The Celeron 2981U 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: 12 (Celeron 2981U) vs 4 (Celeron J1850) — the Celeron 2981U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U) and N/A (SoC) (Celeron J1850).
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Celeron J1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | DDR3L-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12+200% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2981U) and HD Graphics (Bay Trail) (Celeron J1850) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2981U targets Budget, Celeron J1850 targets Low Power. Direct competitor: Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U; Celeron J1850 rivals Pentium J2900.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Celeron J1850 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | HD Graphics (Bay Trail) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Low Power |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 2981U launched at $137 MSRP, while the Celeron J1850 debuted at $82.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Celeron J1850 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $137 | $82-40% |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2013 |
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