CPU
GPU
Celeron P4600
Athlon II X2 250u
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 P4600 is positioned at rank 1050 and the Athlon II X2 250u is on rank 891, so the Athlon II X2 250u offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron P4600
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250u
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+3%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 P4600 and Athlon II X2 250u
Celeron P4600
The Celeron P4600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 0.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 965 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon II X2 250u
The Athlon II X2 250u is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 935 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron P4600 and Athlon II X2 250u share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.1 GHz on the Celeron P4600 versus 1.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250u — a 176.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250u. The Celeron P4600 uses the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 250u uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron P4600 scores 965 against the Athlon II X2 250u's 935 — a 3.2% lead for the Celeron P4600. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron P4600 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250u.
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.1 GHz | 1.6 GHz+1500% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Westmere (2010−2011) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 965+3% | 935 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 222 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 423 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron P4600 uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 250u uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Celeron P4600 versus DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II X2 250u — the Celeron P4600 supports 198.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,QM57 (Celeron P4600) and 760G,785G (Athlon II X2 250u).
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066+35433% | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 8 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Celeron P4600) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u). The Celeron P4600 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II X2 250u requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250u targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron P4600 rivals Pentium P6000; Athlon II X2 250u rivals Core 2 Duo E7500.
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Low Power Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Celeron P4600 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 250u debuted at $60. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 250u is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron P4600 delivers 64.3 pts/$ vs 62.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250u — making the Celeron P4600 the 3.2% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $60-30% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 64.3+3% | 62.3 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
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