Celeron 887 vs Core i5-2510E

CPU

GPU

Celeron 887

2 Cores2 Thrd17 WWMax: 1.5 GHz2012

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Core i5-2510E

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2011

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Celeron 887 vs Core i5-2510E Performance Spectrum

Celeron 887

2 / 2

1,877

0.0%

1,884

+0.4%

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.

Celeron 887 vs Core i5-2510E FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Celeron 887 vs Core i5-2510E: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Celeron 887

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $144 less on MSRP ($86 MSRP vs $230 MSRP).
✅Delivers 166.4% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 21.8 vs 8.2 PassMark/$ ($86 MSRP vs $230 MSRP).
✅Draws 17W instead of 35W, a 18W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (233 vs 527).
❌Lower PassMark (1,877 vs 1,884).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 3 MB).

Core i5-2510E

2011

Why buy it

✅+126.2% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.2 vs 21.8 PassMark/$ ($230 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
❌105.9% higher power demand at 35W vs 17W.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i5-2510E better than Celeron 887?

Yes. Core i5-2510E is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i5-2510E is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-2510E is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads. It also has the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i5-2510E is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. Core i5-2510E comes in 167.4% more expensive on MSRP at $230 MSRP versus $86 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Celeron 887 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 0.2% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron 887 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2012 vs 2011). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Celeron 887 vs Core i5-2510E Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Celeron 887

The Celeron 887 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 1.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,877 points. Launch price was $86.

Core i5-2510E

The Core i5-2510E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 February 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,884 points. Launch price was $266.

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Processing Power

The Celeron 887 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-2510E's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.5 GHz on the Celeron 887 versus 3.1 GHz on the Core i5-2510E — a 69.6% clock advantage for the Core i5-2510E (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.5 GHz). Both are built on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture using a 32 nm process. In PassMark, the Celeron 887 scores 1,877 against the Core i5-2510E's 1,884 — a 0.4% lead for the Core i5-2510E. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 233 vs 527, a 77.4% lead for the Core i5-2510E that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 887 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-2510E.

Feature	Celeron 887	Core i5-2510E
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	1.5 GHz	3.1 GHz+107%
Base Clock	1.5 GHz	2.5 GHz+67%
L3 Cache	2 MB (total)	3 MB (total)+50%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	32 nm	32 nm
Architecture	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)	Sandy Bridge (2011−2013)
PassMark	1,877	1,884
Geekbench 6 Single	233	527+126%
Geekbench 6 Multi	415	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Celeron 887 uses the BGA1023 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i5-2510E uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM65,HM67,QM67,HM70,HM76 (Celeron 887) and HM65,QM67 (Core i5-2510E).

Feature	Celeron 887	Core i5-2510E
Socket	BGA1023	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	16 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 887) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-2510E). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Celeron 887) and HD Graphics 3000 (Core i5-2510E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 887 targets Laptop, Core i5-2510E targets Embedded. Direct competitor: Celeron 887 rivals Pentium 967; Core i5-2510E rivals Embedded R-Series.

Feature	Celeron 887	Core i5-2510E
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)	HD Graphics 3000
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Laptop	Embedded

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Celeron 887 was priced at $86, while the Core i5-2510E came in at $230. On launch pricing ($86 vs $230), Celeron 887 was $144 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron 887 delivers 21.8 pts/$ vs 8.2 pts/$ for the Core i5-2510E — making the Celeron 887 the 90.8% better value option.

Feature	Celeron 887	Core i5-2510E
MSRP	$86-63%	$230
Performance per Dollar	21.8+166%	8.2
Release Date	2012	2011

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