Celeron G460 vs Phenom II X2 550

Intel

Celeron G460

1 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2011
VS
AMD

Phenom II X2 550

2 Cores2 Thrd80 WWMax: 3.1 GHz2009

Celeron G460 vs Phenom II X2 550 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 G460 vs Phenom II X2 550 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 G460 vs Phenom II X2 550: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Celeron G460

2011

Why buy it

  • βœ…+0.3% higher PassMark.
  • βœ…Draws 35W instead of 80W, a 45W reduction.
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge), while Phenom II X2 550 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Smaller total L3 cache (1.5 MB vs 6 MB).
  • ❌Launch MSRP is still $37 MSRP, while Phenom II X2 550 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Phenom II X2 550

2009

Why buy it

  • βœ…+300% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 1.5 MB).

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (1,142 vs 1,145).
  • ❌128.6% higher power demand at 80W vs 35W.
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron G460 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron G460 better than Phenom II X2 550?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Phenom II X2 550 is ahead with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G460 pulls ahead with 0.3% better PassMark. Phenom II X2 550 also has the bigger cache pool with 300% larger total L3 cache (6 MB vs 1.5 MB).
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron G460 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Celeron G460 is the better buy right now. Celeron G460 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $37 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.3% better PassMark. The compromise is that Phenom II X2 550 is still the better pure gaming CPU with a 0.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (30.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron G460 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 1 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Celeron G460 vs Phenom II X2 550 Technical Specifications

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

Intel

Celeron G460

The Celeron G460 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 December 2011 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011βˆ’2013) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 1.5 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: 1,145 points. Launch price was $65.

AMD

Phenom II X2 550

The Phenom II X2 550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 November 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Callisto (2009βˆ’2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,142 points. Launch price was $133.

⚑

Processing Power

The Celeron G460 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, while the Phenom II X2 550 offers 2 cores / 2 threads β€” the Phenom II X2 550 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Celeron G460 versus 3.1 GHz on the Phenom II X2 550 β€” a 53.1% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 550 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Celeron G460 uses the Sandy Bridge (2011βˆ’2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X2 550 uses Callisto (2009βˆ’2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G460 scores 1,145 against the Phenom II X2 550's 1,142 β€” a 0.3% lead for the Celeron G460. L3 cache: 1.5 MB on the Celeron G460 vs 6 MB (total) on the Phenom II X2 550.

FeatureCeleron G460Phenom II X2 550
Cores / Threads
1 / 2
2 / 2+100%
Boost Clock
1.8 GHz
3.1 GHz+72%
Base Clock
1.8 GHz
3.1 GHz+72%
L3 Cache
1.5 MB
6 MB (total)+300%
L2 Cache
256 kB
512 kB (per core)+100%
Process
32 nm-29%
45 nm
Architecture
Sandy Bridge (2011βˆ’2013)
Callisto (2009βˆ’2010)
PassMark
1,145
1,142
Geekbench 6 Single
300
β€”
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Celeron G460 uses the LGA1155 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 550 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureCeleron G460Phenom II X2 550
Socket
LGA1155
AM3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1066
β€”
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB
β€”
RAM Channels
2
β€”
ECC Support
No
β€”
PCIe Lanes
16
β€”
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron G460) / not specified (Phenom II X2 550). The Celeron G460 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Phenom II X2 550 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G460 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G460 rivals Pentium G630.

FeatureCeleron G460Phenom II X2 550
Integrated GPU
Yes
β€”
IGPU Model
HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
β€”
Unlocked
No
β€”
AVX-512
No
β€”
Virtualization
VT-x
β€”
Target Use
Budget
β€”