Xeon 2.66 vs Celeron 2.80
Xeon 2.66
Celeron 2.80
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 Xeon 2.66 is positioned at rank 1028 and the Celeron 2.80 is on rank 1076, so the Xeon 2.66 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 2.66
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2.80
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 2.66 | Celeron 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Prestonia (2002) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Northwood (2002−2004) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 2.66 | Celeron 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+56%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Xeon 2.66 and Celeron 2.80
Xeon 2.66
The Xeon 2.66 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Prestonia (2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 445 points. Launch price was $800.
Celeron 2.80
The Celeron 2.80 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Northwood (2002−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 128 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 428 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon 2.66 and Celeron 2.80 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Xeon 2.66 versus 2.8 GHz on the Celeron 2.80 — a 5.1% clock advantage for the Celeron 2.80. The Xeon 2.66 uses the Prestonia (2002) architecture (130 nm), while the Celeron 2.80 uses Northwood (2002−2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 2.66 scores 445 against the Celeron 2.80's 428 — a 3.9% lead for the Xeon 2.66. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon 2.66 | Celeron 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.66 GHz | 2.8 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+300% | 128 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Prestonia (2002) | Northwood (2002−2004) |
| PassMark | 445+4% | 428 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 2.66 uses the PGA604 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 2.80 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 2.66 | Celeron 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA604 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR1-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon 2.66) / No (Celeron 2.80). Primary use case: Celeron 2.80 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.80 rivals Pentium 4 2.80.
| Feature | Xeon 2.66 | Celeron 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | No |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Xeon 2.66 launched at $337 MSRP, while the Celeron 2.80 debuted at $100. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Xeon 2.66 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 2.66 delivers 44.5 pts/$ vs 28.5 pts/$ for the Celeron 2.80 — making the Xeon 2.66 the 43.7% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon 2.66 | Celeron 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $337 | $100-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 44.5+56% | 28.5 |
| Release Date | 2002 | 2003 |
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