Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 vs Athlon II X2 260
Celeron Dual-Core SU2300
Athlon II X2 260
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 Dual-Core SU2300 is positioned at rank 1098 and the Athlon II X2 260 is on rank 780, so the Athlon II X2 260 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron Dual-Core SU2300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 260
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 | Athlon II X2 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($12) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 | Athlon II X2 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+316%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) | ✅ More affordable ($12) |
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 Dual-Core SU2300 and Athlon II X2 260
Celeron Dual-Core SU2300
The Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: BGA956. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 1,250 points. Launch price was $134.
Athlon II X2 260
The Athlon II X2 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,248 points. Launch price was $48.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 and Athlon II X2 260 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 260 — a 90.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 260. The Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 uses the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 260 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 scores 1,250 against the Athlon II X2 260's 1,248 — a 0.2% lead for the Celeron Dual-Core SU2300.
| Feature | Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 | Athlon II X2 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz+167% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Penryn (2008−2011) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,250 | 1,248 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 150 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 280 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 uses the BGA956 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 260 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-800 on the Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 260 — the Athlon II X2 260 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 260 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 6 (Celeron Dual-Core SU2300) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 260) — the Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: GS45 (Celeron Dual-Core SU2300) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 260).
| Feature | Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 | Athlon II X2 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA956 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-800 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+26214300% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 6 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron Dual-Core SU2300) vs true (Athlon II X2 260). Primary use case: Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 targets Legacy Mobile. Direct competitor: Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 rivals Pentium SU4100; Athlon II X2 260 rivals Pentium E6700.
| Feature | Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 | Athlon II X2 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Legacy Mobile | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 launched at $134 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 260 debuted at $60. At current prices ($50 vs $12), the Athlon II X2 260 is $38 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 delivers 25.0 pts/$ vs 104.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 260 — making the Athlon II X2 260 the 122.5% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron Dual-Core SU2300 | Athlon II X2 260 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $134 | $60-55% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | $12-76% |
| Performance per Dollar | 25.0 | 104.0+316% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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