
Celeron 2981U vs Pentium N3510

Celeron 2981U

Pentium N3510
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 Pentium N3510 is on rank 1180, 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 Pentium N3510
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | Pentium N3510 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($137) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2981U | Pentium N3510 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+17%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($137) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($161) |
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 Pentium N3510

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.

Pentium N3510
The Pentium N3510 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) 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: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 7.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3L-1333. Passmark benchmark score: 1,040 points. Launch price was $161.
Processing Power
The Celeron 2981U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Pentium N3510 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Pentium N3510 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U versus 2 GHz on the Pentium N3510 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Pentium N3510 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Celeron 2981U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Pentium N3510 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2981U scores 1,036 against the Pentium N3510's 1,040 — a 0.4% lead for the Pentium N3510. Both processors carry 2 MB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Pentium N3510 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 512 kB | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,036 | 1,040 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2981U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Pentium N3510 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Pentium N3510 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FCBGA1170 |
| 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 (Pentium N3510). The Celeron 2981U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Haswell)), while the Pentium N3510 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Pentium N3510 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pentium N3510 debuted at $161.
| Feature | Celeron 2981U | Pentium N3510 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $137-15% | $161 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $161 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2013 |
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