CPU
GPU
Core i7-620UM
Celeron 2961Y
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 Core i7-620UM is positioned at rank 1228 and the Celeron 2961Y is on rank 397, so the Celeron 2961Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-620UM
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2961Y
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-620UM | Celeron 2961Y |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($278) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-620UM | Celeron 2961Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($278) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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.
Path of Exile 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-620UM and Celeron 2961Y
Core i7-620UM
The Core i7-620UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.06 GHz, with boost up to 2.13 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,091 points. Launch price was $278.
Celeron 2961Y
The Celeron 2961Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 1.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 11.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,085 points. Launch price was $107.
Processing Power
The Core i7-620UM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 2961Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.13 GHz on the Core i7-620UM versus 1.1 GHz on the Celeron 2961Y — a 63.8% clock advantage for the Core i7-620UM (base: 1.06 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Core i7-620UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 2961Y uses Haswell (2013−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-620UM scores 1,091 against the Celeron 2961Y's 1,085 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i7-620UM. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-620UM vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 2961Y.
| Feature | Core i7-620UM | Celeron 2961Y |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.13 GHz+94% | 1.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.06 GHz | 1.1 GHz+4% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total)+100% | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 22 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Haswell (2013−2015) |
| PassMark | 1,091 | 1,085 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 700 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-620UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2961Y uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Celeron 2961Y 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: 16 (Core i7-620UM) vs 12 (Celeron 2961Y) — the Core i7-620UM offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,QM57 (Core i7-620UM) and Wildcat Point-LP (Celeron 2961Y).
| Feature | Core i7-620UM | Celeron 2961Y |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | FCBGA1168 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support VT-x virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i7-620UM) and HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2961Y) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-620UM targets Ultra-Portable Laptop, Celeron 2961Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i7-620UM rivals Core 2 Duo SU9600; Celeron 2961Y rivals Pentium 2117U.
| Feature | Core i7-620UM | Celeron 2961Y |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | HD Graphics (Haswell) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | VT-x |
| Target Use | Ultra-Portable Laptop | Budget |
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