Intel celeron: desktop and laptop worth it?

The Intel Celeron brand first saw the light of day in 1998, which is why almost everyone knows this range of processors characterized by being low - cost. These chips are usually present in many Mini - PCs, laptops, tablets and even desktop computers. Many plan to install them on their computers, so we tell you if they are worth it.

Below you will find our analysis on Intel Celeron.

Index of contents

Intel Celeron for desktop

In 2018, the Intel Celeron G4920, G4900 and G4900T came out as low-performance desktop processors; In mid- 2019, the G4950 did the same. All are manufactured in 14 nm and equip 2 cores, being half of those that the 2017 Celerons bring.

It is a family of dual-core processors that run from 2.9 GHz to 3.3 GHz. They all come with 2 threads and 2MB Intel Smart Cache. In addition, they belong to the LGA 1151-2 socket, which means that its memory type is DDR4 at 2400 Mhz.

They are accompanied by integrated Intel UHD Graphics 610 graphics compatible with 4K and DirectX 12. Its TDP is 54W, which offers a really low consumption.

Its target audience is computers that require office work with little workload, such as Office word processors. It has a light performance, which is far from a mere AMD FX-6300, so it is not recommended for tasks that require more power than usual.

In theory, its competition is the AMD A8 or the Athlon 200GE, coming to equip 4 cores, although they are manufactured in 28 nm. In performance, the AMD wins, although it consumes more power.

Its price is around 40 or 60 euros, which is a competitive price, despite strong competition from AMD.

Intel Celeron for laptop

As for laptops, we have to go to 2016 and 2017 to find the latest Intel Celeron processors. Here there are greater differences between them, so we have preferred to make a table to better illustrate their specifications.

Processor name	Cores / threads	Frequency	Cache	RAM	Socket	Graphics	Lithography	TDP	Release year
N4100	4/4	1.10 GHz	4 MB	DDR4	FCBGA1090	UHD Intel 600	14 nm	6W	2017
N4000	2/2	1.10 GHz	4 MB	DDR4	FCBGA1090	UHD Intel 600	14 nm	6W	2017
N3450	4/4	1.10 GHz	2MB L2	DDR3; LPDDR4	FCBGA1296	HD Intel 500	14 nm	6W	2016
N3350	2/2	1.10 GHz	2MB L2	DDR3; LPDDR4	FCBGA1296	HD Intel 500	14 nm	6W	2016

As you can see, Intel's priority is 4K compatibility and energy efficiency, which we can see in its TDP. This range of processors are aimed at the most basic ultrabooks and laptops on the market, which do not usually exceed € 400.

His behavior is very good; in fact, we can see laptops or Mini-PCs that are for sale and that equip a Celeron 3855U, a processor that came out in 2015. On the other hand, we cannot have any kind of demanding medium with a processor of this range because we are going to experience slow loads or a bad user experience.

Equip an Intel Celeron on a laptop?

With all the information captured, it does not seem to make much sense to equip an Intel Celeron, but the truth is that it is a range that has utility for a very large group of consumers. Next, we detail the advantages of this processor

Advantage

It is economical. It cannot be denied that its price is really low, despite its light performance. You may have a tougher fight on desktop computers, but in the notebooks guild it's one of the most bought because its price is almost unbeatable. We can say that it is the main reason that this humble chip has its success. Perfect for basic tasks. You are looking for a laptop for multimedia use and the occasional word processor. Your intuition sends you to an i3 or i5, but they are processors that offer more performance than you need for the described purpose. What processor to buy? Well, a Celeron or a m3, which is another really good option. With an SSD we do not notice big differences. With normal use, what will make the difference is the hard drive, not the processor. Installing such a storage completely changes the user experience. Therefore, if we only want to use multimedia and Microsoft Office, a Celeron is a great processor.

Disadvantages

Limit computer use. We say this because it is a low-performance processor, so we cannot ask our laptop to do tricks. Therefore, it limits the use to basic tasks, limiting its usefulness to greater claims in the future. There are better options. It is true that within its range it is unrivaled, but we can find very attractive equipment for similar prices. In this sense, it is much more worth climbing a step and getting an Intel Core i3, since it is a processor that ages much better than a Celeron and that can meet our demands in the future. Cheap is expensive. By purchasing such a humble processor, our equipment will be obsolete in no time. This translates into a short lifespan, which is just what we don't look for when we buy a laptop because it can't be upgraded like a desktop computer. In a few years, the team will be short and we will have to look for another one because in our day we prefer to save a few euros.

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Equip a desktop computer with Celeron?

Here we can find a greater choice, if possible. The reason for this is that the laptop market is dominated by Intel, but in the desktop computer market we find AMD as an alternative. It is true that there are laptops that equip Ryzen, but they are very few compared to those that incorporate Intel technology.

That being said, let's see what are the advantages and disadvantages of an Intel Celeron on a desktop computer.

Advantage

Competitive price. Being between 40 and 60 euros, it becomes a very cheap processor for the performance it offers. Its competition seems to improve performance, but overall it is a processor that does not fail, nor does it give complications, as it is also very efficient. Ideal for low-load work. The Celerons are processors that, if we do not demand too much, they respond perfectly. This includes not playing video games or not doing rendering work, for which we will have to opt for a larger processor.

Disadvantages

Better value for money options. There are somewhat more expensive options, but more profitable or that can be amortized better, such as AMD or Intel i3. In the case of the i3, we will go to € 90, but its performance is much higher than the Celeron. On the other hand, AMD with its Ryzen 3 2200G offer overwhelming value for money for less than the i3. It falls short. In a short time, our computer will fall short due to obsolescence. What's more, the AM4 socket appears to be much more benevolent to the user because it offers better backward compatibility. As for Intel, these Celeron are based on a socket that is destined to disappear.

Worth?

If you are looking for my opinion about buying a device that incorporates a Celeron, my verdict is no. I believe that there are better alternatives on the market, which offer greater versatility, greater duration over time and performance significantly superior to that of the Celeron. All this for just over € 40 difference from this Intel chip.

I understand that the Celeron market is very limited and that it may have its demand, but by buying a processor of this type you are condemning your equipment to within 4 years. Not to mention the maximum speeds of DDR4 RAM that it supports, being able to reach 2933MHz as the 2200G does.

My opinion that they are not worth it does not mean that they are not processors that serve many people who use the computer little and without demands. With an undemanding use, it is a processor that works perfectly.

Would you buy a Celeron? Do you consider it to be a useful processor?