Celeron 2981U
VS
E-350

Celeron 2981U vs E-350

Intel

Celeron 2981U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2014
VS
AMD

E-350

2 Cores2 Thrd18 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2011

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2981U

#414
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
566%
#415
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
558%
#416
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
512%
#417
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
510%
#418
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
505%
#420
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
488%
#421
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
468%
#422
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
467%
#423
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
455%
#426
Celeron 2981U
MSRP: $137|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar E-350

#842
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
1398%
#843
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
1378%
#844
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
1265%
#845
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
1259%
#846
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
1248%
#848
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
1205%
#849
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
1155%
#850
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
1153%
#851
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
1122%
#854
E-350
MSRP: $50|Avg: $15
100%
#856
Ryzen Embedded R1305G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $50
100%
#863
Pentium Dual Core T2390
MSRP: $86|Avg: $5
98%
#867
Core i7-1160G7
MSRP: $426|Avg: N/A
98%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Analysis: Based on specifications, the E-350 shows stronger theoretical performance metrics.
InsightCeleron 2981UE-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

Efficiency: Even within a comparison of older hardware, the E-350 stands out as the superior choice. It is effectively 89% cheaper ($15 vs $137) while identifying as the stronger performer.
InsightCeleron 2981UE-350
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Better overall value (+825%)
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($137)
More affordable ($15)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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

Intel

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.

AMD

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.

FeatureCeleron 2981UE-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.

FeatureCeleron 2981UE-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.

FeatureCeleron 2981UE-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.

FeatureCeleron 2981UE-350
MSRP
$137
$50-64%
Avg Price (30d)
$15
Release Date
2014
2011