Celeron G4900 vs Core i5-661
Celeron G4900
Core i5-661
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G4900
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-661
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron G4900 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron G4900 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+114%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($85) | ✅ More affordable ($40) |
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 G4900 and Core i5-661
Celeron G4900
The Celeron G4900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) 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: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 54 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 2,370 points. Launch price was $42.
Core i5-661
The Core i5-661 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.33 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 87 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,387 points. Launch price was $252.
Processing Power
The Celeron G4900 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-661's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Celeron G4900 versus 3.6 GHz on the Core i5-661 — a 14.9% clock advantage for the Core i5-661 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.33 GHz). The Celeron G4900 uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i5-661 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron G4900 scores 2,370 against the Core i5-661's 2,387 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-661. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Celeron G4900 vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i5-661.
| Feature | Celeron G4900 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.6 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.33 GHz+7% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total)+50% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 2,370 | 2,387 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 850 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,550 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron G4900 uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-661 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Celeron G4900 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Celeron G4900) / not specified (Core i5-661). The Celeron G4900 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 610), while the Core i5-661 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G4900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G4900 rivals Pentium G5400.
| Feature | Celeron G4900 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 610 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron G4900 launched at $42 MSRP, while the Core i5-661 debuted at $196. At current prices ($85 vs $40), the Core i5-661 is $45 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron G4900 delivers 27.9 pts/$ vs 59.7 pts/$ for the Core i5-661 — making the Core i5-661 the 72.6% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron G4900 | Core i5-661 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $42-79% | $196 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $85 | $40-53% |
| Performance per Dollar | 27.9 | 59.7+114% |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2010 |
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