Celeron G1610 vs Athlon II X3 420e
Celeron G1610
Athlon II X3 420e
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 G1610 is positioned at rank 531 and the Athlon II X3 420e is on rank 906, so the Celeron G1610 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G1610
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G1610 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G1610 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+199%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 G1610 and Athlon II X3 420e
Celeron G1610
The Celeron G1610 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 December 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 55 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,550 points. Launch price was $388.
Athlon II X3 420e
The Athlon II X3 420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,557 points. Launch price was $116.
Processing Power
The Celeron G1610 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Athlon II X3 420e offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the Athlon II X3 420e has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Celeron G1610 versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon II X3 420e — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.6 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Celeron G1610 uses the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G1610 scores 1,550 against the Athlon II X3 420e's 1,557 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X3 420e. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 456 vs 314, a 36.9% lead for the Celeron G1610 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 778 vs 880 (12.3% advantage for the Athlon II X3 420e). L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G1610 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X3 420e.
| Feature | Celeron G1610 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 3 / 3+50% |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-51% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,550 | 1,557 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 456+45% | 314 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 778 | 880+13% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G1610 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X3 420e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Celeron G1610 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H61,B75,H77,Z77 (Celeron G1610) and 760G,785G,880G (Athlon II X3 420e).
| Feature | Celeron G1610 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron G1610) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X3 420e). The Celeron G1610 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)), while the Athlon II X3 420e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1610 targets Budget, Athlon II X3 420e targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron G1610 rivals Pentium G2020; Athlon II X3 420e rivals Athlon II X3 415e.
| Feature | Celeron G1610 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G1610 launched at $42 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 420e debuted at $107. At current prices ($5 vs $15), the Celeron G1610 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G1610 delivers 310.0 pts/$ vs 103.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 420e — making the Celeron G1610 the 99.7% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G1610 | Athlon II X3 420e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $42-61% | $107 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-67% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 310.0+199% | 103.8 |
| Release Date | 2012 | 2010 |
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