Celeron G440 vs Celeron 2981U
Celeron G440
Celeron 2981U
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 G440 is positioned at rank 625 and the Celeron 2981U is on rank 426, so the Celeron 2981U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G440
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2981U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G440 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G440 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+2637%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) |
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 G440 and Celeron 2981U
Celeron G440
The Celeron G440 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 September 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1155. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,035 points. Launch price was $45.
Celeron 2981U
The Celeron 2981U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,036 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Celeron G440 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Celeron 2981U offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Celeron 2981U has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Celeron G440 versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U — identical boost frequencies (base: 1.6 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Celeron G440 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 2981U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G440 scores 1,035 against the Celeron 2981U's 1,036 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron 2981U. L3 cache: 1 MB on the Celeron G440 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U.
| Feature | Celeron G440 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 2 / 2+100% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,035 | 1,036 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G440 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2981U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Celeron G440 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. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron G440) vs 12 (Celeron 2981U) — the Celeron G440 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H61,B65,H67,Z68 (Celeron G440) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U).
| Feature | Celeron G440 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1155 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) (Celeron G440) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2981U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G440 targets Budget, Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G440 rivals Pentium G630; Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Celeron G440 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G440 launched at $37 MSRP, while the Celeron 2981U debuted at $137.
| Feature | Celeron G440 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $37-73% | $137 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5 | — |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2014 |
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