Celeron E1200 vs Pentium D 915

Intel

Celeron E1200

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2008
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium D 915

2 Cores2 Thrd95 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2006
Similar parts
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Celeron E1200 vs Pentium D 915 Performance Spectrum

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 E1200 vs Pentium D 915 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 E1200 vs Pentium D 915: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron E1200

2008

Why buy it

  • Costs $21 less on MSRP ($53 MSRP vs $74 MSRP).
  • Delivers 31.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 12.5 vs 9.5 PassMark/$ ($53 MSRP vs $74 MSRP).
  • Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium D 915 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (665 vs 705).

Pentium D 915

2006

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +5.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.5 vs 12.5 PassMark/$ ($74 MSRP vs $53 MSRP).
  • 46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium D 915 better than Celeron E1200?
Yes. Pentium D 915 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Pentium D 915 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 5.7% 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, Pentium D 915 is the stronger fit. You are getting 6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Pentium D 915 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium D 915 comes in 39.6% more expensive on MSRP at $74 MSRP versus $53 MSRP, and it still gives you a 5.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Celeron E1200 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2008 platform. Even with 31.7% better value on paper (12.5 vs 9.5 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA775.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron E1200 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2008 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Celeron E1200 vs Pentium D 915 Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Celeron E1200

The Celeron E1200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 January 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 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): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 665 points. Launch price was $40.

Intel

Pentium D 915

The Pentium D 915 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 July 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 705 points. Launch price was $74.

Processing Power

Both the Celeron E1200 and Pentium D 915 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron E1200 versus 2.8 GHz on the Pentium D 915 — a 54.5% clock advantage for the Pentium D 915 (base: 1.6 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Celeron E1200 uses the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium D 915 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron E1200 scores 665 against the Pentium D 915's 705 — a 5.8% lead for the Pentium D 915. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureCeleron E1200Pentium D 915
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
1.6 GHz
2.8 GHz+75%
Base Clock
1.6 GHz
2.8 GHz+75%
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
512 kB (total)
2 MB (total)+300%
Process
65 nm
65 nm
Architecture
Allendale (2006−2009)
NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark
665
705+6%
Geekbench 6 Single
210
Geekbench 6 Multi
380
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Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA775 socket with PCIe 1.1.

FeatureCeleron E1200Pentium D 915
Socket
LGA775
LGA775
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
0
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: No (Celeron E1200) / not specified (Pentium D 915). Primary use case: Celeron E1200 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron E1200 rivals Pentium E2140.

FeatureCeleron E1200Pentium D 915
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
No
Target Use
Budget
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Value Analysis

At launch, the Celeron E1200 was priced at $53, while the Pentium D 915 came in at $74. On launch pricing ($53 vs $74), Celeron E1200 was $21 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron E1200 delivers 12.5 pts/$ vs 9.5 pts/$ for the Pentium D 915 — making the Celeron E1200 the 27.4% better value option.

FeatureCeleron E1200Pentium D 915
MSRP
$53-28%
$74
Performance per Dollar
12.5+32%
9.5
Release Date
2008
2006

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