Celeron J1850 vs Celeron 2981U
Celeron J1850
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 J1850 is positioned at rank 110 and the Celeron 2981U is on rank 426, so the Celeron J1850 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron J1850
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2981U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron J1850 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($82) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($137) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-D (2013) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron J1850 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+67%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($82) | ⚠️ 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 J1850 and Celeron 2981U
Celeron J1850
The Celeron J1850 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,035 points. Launch price was $82.
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 J1850 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron 2981U offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Celeron J1850 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Celeron J1850 versus 1.6 GHz on the Celeron 2981U — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Celeron J1850 (base: 2 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Celeron J1850 uses the Bay Trail-D (2013) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron 2981U uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron J1850 scores 1,035 against the Celeron 2981U's 1,036 — a 0.1% lead for the Celeron 2981U. L3 cache: 2 MB L2 Cache on the Celeron J1850 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 2981U.
| Feature | Celeron J1850 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz+25% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz+25% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB L2 Cache | 2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Bay Trail-D (2013) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,035 | 1,036 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 180 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 450 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron J1850 uses the FCBGA1170 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2981U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L-1333 memory speed. The Celeron 2981U supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 4 (Celeron J1850) vs 12 (Celeron 2981U) — the Celeron 2981U offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: N/A (SoC) (Celeron J1850) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2981U).
| Feature | Celeron J1850 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1170 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1333 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 12+200% |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Bay Trail) (Celeron J1850) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2981U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron J1850 targets Low Power, Celeron 2981U targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron J1850 rivals Pentium J2900; Celeron 2981U rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Celeron J1850 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Bay Trail) | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Low Power | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Celeron J1850 launched at $82 MSRP, while the Celeron 2981U debuted at $137.
| Feature | Celeron J1850 | Celeron 2981U |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $82-40% | $137 |
| Release Date | 2013 | 2014 |
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