Core i7-660UM vs Celeron 1020M
Core i7-660UM
Celeron 1020M
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 i7-660UM is positioned at rank 1225 and the Celeron 1020M is on rank 170, so the Celeron 1020M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-660UM
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 1020M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-660UM | Celeron 1020M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($317) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-660UM | Celeron 1020M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($317) | ✅ 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-660UM and Celeron 1020M
Core i7-660UM
The Core i7-660UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 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: 1,279 points. Launch price was $317.
Celeron 1020M
The Celeron 1020M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.1 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,275 points. Launch price was $86.
Processing Power
The Core i7-660UM packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Celeron 1020M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Core i7-660UM versus 2.1 GHz on the Celeron 1020M — a 13.3% clock advantage for the Core i7-660UM (base: 1.33 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The Core i7-660UM uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 1020M uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-660UM scores 1,279 against the Celeron 1020M's 1,275 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i7-660UM. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-660UM vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 1020M.
| Feature | Core i7-660UM | Celeron 1020M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+14% | 2.1 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.33 GHz | 2.1 GHz+58% |
| 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) | Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,279 | 1,275 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 250 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 600 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-660UM uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 1020M uses PGA988 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Celeron 1020M supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: PM55,HM55,QM57,HM57 (Core i7-660UM) and HM77,HM76,HM75 (Celeron 1020M).
| Feature | Core i7-660UM | Celeron 1020M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-660UM) vs VT-x (Celeron 1020M). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Core i7-660UM) and HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) (Celeron 1020M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-660UM targets Budget, Celeron 1020M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 1020M rivals Pentium 2020M.
| Feature | Core i7-660UM | Celeron 1020M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget |
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