
Celeron 2981U vs E-350

Celeron 2981U

E-350
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 E-350 is on rank 854, so the Celeron 2981U 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 E-350
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | E-350 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Zacate (2011−2013) / 40 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | E-350 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+825%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 E-350

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.

E-350
The E-350 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Zacate (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,049 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron 2981U and E-350 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U versus 1.6 GHz on the E-350 — identical boost frequencies. The Celeron 2981U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the E-350 uses Zacate (2011−2013) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2981U scores 1,036 against the E-350's 1,049 — a 1.2% lead for the E-350. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U vs 0 kB on the E-350.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | E-350 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 22 nm-45% | 40 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Zacate (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,036 | 1,049+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2981U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the E-350 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | E-350 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FT1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron 2981U) / not specified (E-350). The Celeron 2981U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the E-350 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | E-350 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 2981U launched at $137 MSRP, while the E-350 debuted at $50.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | E-350 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $137 | $50-64% |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $15 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2011 |
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