Celeron P4600 vs Athlon II X2 260u
Celeron P4600
Athlon II X2 260u
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 260u is on rank 873, so the Athlon II X2 260u 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 260u
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 260u |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Westmere (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 260u |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+54%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 260u
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 260u
The Athlon II X2 260u 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: 1.8 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: 990 points. Launch price was $83.
Processing Power
Both the Celeron P4600 and Athlon II X2 260u share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 0.1 GHz on the Celeron P4600 versus 1.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 260u — a 178.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 260u. The Celeron P4600 uses the Westmere (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 260u uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron P4600 scores 965 against the Athlon II X2 260u's 990 — a 2.6% lead for the Athlon II X2 260u. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron P4600 vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 260u.
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 260u |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.1 GHz | 1.8 GHz+1700% |
| 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 | 990+3% |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron P4600 uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 260u uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Celeron P4600 versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 260u — the Athlon II X2 260u supports 22.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 260u supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Celeron P4600) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 260u) — the Celeron P4600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,QM57 (Celeron P4600) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 260u).
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 260u |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066 | 1333+25% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 16+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The Celeron P4600 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II X2 260u requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Celeron P4600 rivals Pentium P6000; Athlon II X2 260u rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 260u |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | true |
Value Analysis
The Celeron P4600 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 260u debuted at $60. At current prices ($15 vs $10), the Athlon II X2 260u is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron P4600 delivers 64.3 pts/$ vs 99.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 260u — making the Athlon II X2 260u the 42.4% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron P4600 | Athlon II X2 260u |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86 | $60-30% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $10-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 64.3 | 99.0+54% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
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