Celeron 420 vs Xeon 2.66
Celeron 420
Xeon 2.66
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 420 is positioned at rank 982 and the Xeon 2.66 is on rank 1028, so the Celeron 420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 420
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 2.66
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 420 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Conroe-L (2007−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Prestonia (2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 420 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+57%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 420 and Xeon 2.66
Celeron 420
The Celeron 420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 June 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Conroe-L (2007−2008) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 425 points. Launch price was $23.
Xeon 2.66
The Xeon 2.66 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Prestonia (2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 445 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron 420 and Xeon 2.66 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 420 versus 2.66 GHz on the Xeon 2.66 — a 49.8% clock advantage for the Xeon 2.66. The Celeron 420 uses the Conroe-L (2007−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Xeon 2.66 uses Prestonia (2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 420 scores 425 against the Xeon 2.66's 445 — a 4.6% lead for the Xeon 2.66. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Celeron 420 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.66 GHz+66% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (total) | 512 kB |
| Process | 65 nm-50% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Conroe-L (2007−2008) | Prestonia (2002) |
| PassMark | 425 | 445+5% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 420 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon 2.66 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Celeron 420 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: No (Celeron 420) / not specified (Xeon 2.66). Primary use case: Celeron 420 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 420 rivals Pentium 4 2.80.
| Feature | Celeron 420 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | No | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 420 launched at $39 MSRP, while the Xeon 2.66 debuted at $337. At current prices ($15 vs $10), the Xeon 2.66 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron 420 delivers 28.3 pts/$ vs 44.5 pts/$ for the Xeon 2.66 — making the Xeon 2.66 the 44.4% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron 420 | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $39-88% | $337 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $10-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.3 | 44.5+57% |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2002 |
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