Intel Celeron G6900

Intel Celeron G6900

Intel Celeron G6900: Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

A Relevant Review for Those Seeking an Affordable and Energy-Efficient Solution


1. Key Characteristics: Alder Lake in Miniature

Architecture and Manufacturing Process

The Intel Celeron G6900 belongs to the Alder Lake generation (12th generation Intel), released in late 2021, but it remains relevant for budget builds in 2025. It is built on a hybrid architecture, but unlike the higher-end models (Core i5, i7), it features only 2 Performance-cores (P-cores) without Efficient-cores (E-cores). This explains its modest multi-threaded performance.

The manufacturing process is Intel 7 (equivalent to 10 nm), ensuring a balance between energy efficiency and performance. The base clock frequency is 3.40 GHz, and overclocking is not supported. The L3 cache size is 4 MB, which is adequate for light tasks but insufficient for complex computations.

Performance and Graphics

In the Geekbench 6 (2025) test, the Celeron G6900 demonstrates:

- 1563 points in single-core mode;

- 2631 points in multi-core mode.

These results are comparable to the Intel Core i3 10th generation but lag behind contemporary budget AMD Ryzen 3 processors. The integrated graphics Intel UHD Graphics 710 supports resolutions up to 4K (60 Hz) through HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.4, but it is not intended for gaming—only for basic video work and office applications.


2. Compatible Motherboards: LGA 1700 Socket and Chipsets

Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses the LGA 1700 socket, supported by motherboards with the following chipsets:

- H610 — the optimal choice for the Celeron G6900 (price $70–90);

- B660 — extended features (PCIe 4.0, more USB ports, price $100–130);

- H670/Z690 — excessive for this processor but suitable for future upgrades.

Examples of motherboards:

- ASUS Prime H610M-E D4 ($75) — a basic option with DDR4;

- Gigabyte B660M DS3H DDR4 ($110) — supports PCIe 4.0 and M.2 NVMe.

Selection Considerations

- DDR4 vs DDR5: The Celeron G6900 supports both types of memory, but H610 motherboards often work with DDR4, reducing overall build costs.

- PCIe 5.0: Technically, the processor supports this standard, but it is not critical for budget tasks.


3. Memory: DDR4 vs DDR5

The processor is compatible with:

- DDR4-3200 (recommended for cost savings);

- DDR5-4800 (excessive for Celeron, but useful for future upgrades).

Advice: For a build with the Celeron G6900, choose 8–16 GB of DDR4. For example, a Crucial DDR4-3200 16 GB kit will cost about $30–40. DDR5 will increase the budget by $20–30 without noticeable performance gains.


4. Power Supply: Minimalism in Power Consumption

With a TDP of 46 watts, the processor does not require a powerful PSU. Recommendations:

- 300–400 watts with an 80+ Bronze certification (for example, EVGA 400W — $40 or Corsair CX450 — $55);

- It is important to consider the power consumption of other components: SSD, graphics card (if used), etc.

Important: For a build with integrated graphics, a 300W PSU is sufficient. If a discrete graphics card (for example, GTX 1650) is planned, choose a 450W PSU.


5. Pros and Cons of Celeron G6900

Pros:

- Price: $50–60 (new, 2025) — one of the most affordable processors;

- Energy Efficiency: Ideal for compact PCs and office systems;

- Support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 (useful for upgrades);

- Integrated Graphics — no need to buy a graphics card.

Cons:

- 2 Cores/2 Threads — weak multitasking capability;

- UHD 710 — not for gaming or video editing;

- Small L3 Cache — slows down in "heavy" applications.


6. Use Cases: Where Celeron G6900 Is Relevant

- Office PCs: Working with documents, browsers, Zoom.

- Home Media Center: Streaming 4K video via Plex or Kodi.

- Educational Projects: PCs for students.

- Light Gaming: Minecraft, Stardew Valley, old games via emulators.

Example: A build with Celeron G6900 + 8 GB DDR4 + 256 GB SSD will handle 10 Chrome tabs and streaming video without lags.


7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Athlon 3150G (2024)

- Price: $60;

- Specifications: 4 Cores/4 Threads, Vega 3 GPU;

- Pros: Better multitasking capability;

- Cons: Outdated AM4 socket, higher TDP (65W).

Intel Pentium Gold G7400

- Price: $75;

- Specifications: 2 Cores/4 Threads, UHD 710;

- Pros: Hyper-Threading for multitasking;

- Cons: More expensive than Celeron with similar graphics.

Conclusion: The Celeron G6900 wins on price but loses in multi-threading performance.


8. Practical Assembly Tips

1. Motherboard: Choose H610 with DDR4 (ASUS Prime H610M-K — $75).

2. Memory: 8–16 GB DDR4-3200.

3. Storage: NVMe SSD 256 GB (for example, Kingston NV2 — $30).

4. Case: Compact Mini-Tower with ventilation (Deepcool MATREXX 30 — $35).

5. Cooling: The boxed cooler is sufficient—minimal noise.

Budget Example:

- Processor: $55

- Motherboard: $75

- RAM: $30

- SSD: $30

- PSU: $40

- Case: $35

Total: ~$245.


9. Final Conclusion: Who Is Celeron G6900 Suitable For?

This processor is the ideal choice for:

- Office PCs: Low cost and energy consumption.

- Home Theaters: 4K video without lag.

- Backup Systems: For example, a file storage server.

- Students: For studying and non-demanding tasks.

Why Not To Choose It: If gaming, video editing, or working with "heavy" applications (Photoshop, AutoCAD) is needed. In 2025, the Celeron G6900 remains a niche solution, but for its tasks, it is a cost-effective and reliable option.

Basic

Label Name
Intel
Platform
Desktop
Launch Date
January 2022
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
G6900
Code Name
Alder Lake

CPU Specifications

Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
2
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
2
Performance-cores
2
Performance-core Base Frequency
3.40 GHz
Intel Turbo Boost Technology
?
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom to give you a burst of speed when you need it, and increased energy efficiency when you don’t.
No
Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
?
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel® HT Technology) delivers two processing threads per physical core. Highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing tasks sooner.
No
Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0
?
Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 identifies the best performing core(s) on a processor and provides increased performance on those cores through increasing frequency as needed by taking advantage of power and thermal headroom.
No
L3 Cache
4 MB
CPU Socket
?
The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.
FCLGA1700
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
Intel 7
TDP
46 W
Processor Base Power
?
The time-averaged power dissipation that the processor is validated to not exceed during manufacturing while executing an Intel-specified high complexity workload at Base Frequency and at the junction temperature as specified in the Datasheet for the SKU segment and configuration.
46 W
Max. Operating Temperature
?
Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.
100°C
PCI Express Version
?
PCI Express Revision is the supported version of the PCI Express standard. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (or PCIe) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for attaching hardware devices to a computer. The different PCI Express versions support different data rates.
5.0 and 4.0
Number of PCI Express Lanes
?
A PCI Express (PCIe) lane consists of two differential signaling pairs, one for receiving data, one for transmitting data, and is the basic unit of the PCIe bus. Max # of PCI Express Lanes is the total number of supported lanes.
20
Intel 64
?
Intel® 64 architecture delivers 64-bit computing on server, workstation, desktop and mobile platforms when combined with supporting software.¹ Intel 64 architecture improves performance by allowing systems to address more than 4 GB of both virtual and physical memory.
Yes
Instruction Set
?
The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.
64-bit
PCI Express Configurations
?
PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.
Up to 1x16+4 | 2x8+4

Memory Specifications

Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
Up to DDR5 4800 MT/s Up to DDR4 3200 MT/s
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
128 GB
Memory Channels
?
The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.
2
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
76.8 GB/s

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model
?
An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.
Intel® UHD Graphics 710
Graphics Base Frequency
?
Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.
300 MHz
Graphics Frequency
?
Graphics max dynamic frequency refers to the maximum opportunistic graphics render clock frequency (in MHz) that can be supported using Intel® HD Graphics with Dynamic Frequency feature.
1.30 GHz
DirectX Support
?
DirectX* Support indicates support for a specific version of Microsoft’s collection of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for handling multimedia compute tasks.
12
Execution Units
?
The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.
16
Max Resolution (HDMI)
?
Max Resolution (HDMI) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the HDMI interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.
4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max Resolution (DP)
?
Max Resolution (DP) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor via the DP interface (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your system.
7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz
Max Resolution (eDP - Integrated Flat Panel)
?
Max Resolution (Integrated Flat Panel) is the maximum resolution supported by the processor for a device with an integrated flat panel (24bits per pixel & 60Hz). System or device display resolution is dependent on multiple system design factors; actual resolution may be lower on your device.
5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Number of Displays Supported
4
Graphics Output
?
Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.
eDP 1.4b | DP 1.4a | HDMI 2.1

Miscellaneous

Intel Deep Learning Boost (Intel DL Boost) on CPU
?
A new set of embedded processor technologies designed to accelerate AI deep learning use cases. It extends Intel AVX-512 with a new Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) that significantly increases deep learning inference performance over previous generations.
Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
?
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. It offers improved manageability by limiting downtime and maintaining productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.
Yes
Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
?
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) continues from the existing support for IA-32 (VT-x) and Itanium® processor (VT-i) virtualization adding new support for I/O-device virtualization. Intel VT-d can help end users improve security and reliability of the systems and also improve performance of I/O devices in virtualized environments.
Yes
Intel Standard Manageability (ISM)
?
Intel® Standard Manageability is the manageability solution for Intel vPro® Essentials platforms and is a subset of Intel® AMT with out-of-band management over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, but no KVM or new life cycle management features.
Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2 | Intel® AVX2
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology
?
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology is an advanced means of enabling high performance while meeting the power-conservation needs of mobile systems. Conventional Intel SpeedStep® Technology switches both voltage and frequency in tandem between high and low levels in response to processor load. Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology builds upon that architecture using design strategies such as Separation between Voltage and Frequency Changes, and Clock Partitioning and Recovery.
Yes
Execute Disable Bit
?
Execute Disable Bit is a hardware-based security feature that can reduce exposure to viruses and malicious-code attacks and prevent harmful software from executing and propagating on the server or network.
Yes
Cache
?
CPU Cache is an area of fast memory located on the processor. Intel® Smart Cache refers to the architecture that allows all cores to dynamically share access to the last level cache.
4 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Intel AES New Instructions
?
Intel® AES New Instructions (Intel® AES-NI) are a set of instructions that enable fast and secure data encryption and decryption. AES-NI are valuable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, for example: applications that perform bulk encryption/decryption, authentication, random number generation, and authenticated encryption.
Yes
Intel Volume Management Device (VMD)
?
Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD) provides a common, robust method of hot plug and LED management for NVMe-based solid state drives.
Yes
Intel Boot Guard
?
Intel® Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard helps protect the system’s pre-OS environment from viruses and malicious software attacks.
Yes
Intel Clear Video HD Technology
?
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology, like its predecessor, Intel® Clear Video Technology, is a suite of image decode and processing technologies built into the integrated processor graphics that improve video playback, delivering cleaner, sharper images, more natural, accurate, and vivid colors, and a clear and stable video picture. Intel® Clear Video HD Technology adds video quality enhancements for richer color and more realistic skin tones.
Yes
Intel VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
?
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT), also known as Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), provides acceleration for memory intensive virtualized applications. Extended Page Tables in Intel® Virtualization Technology platforms reduces the memory and power overhead costs and increases battery life through hardware optimization of page table management.
Yes
Intel Control-Flow Enforcement Technology
?
CET - Intel Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET) helps protect against the misuse of legitimate code snippets through return-oriented programming (ROP) control-flow hijacking attacks.
Yes
Intel OS Guard
Yes
OpenGL Support
?
OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics.
4.5
OpenCL Support
?
OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a multi-platform API (Application Programming Interface) for heterogeneous parallel programming.
3.0
Intel Quick Sync Video
?
Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.
Yes

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6
Single Core Score
1563
Geekbench 6
Multi Core Score
2631
Geekbench 5
Single Core Score
1334
Geekbench 5
Multi Core Score
2449
Passmark CPU
Single Core Score
2725
Passmark CPU
Multi Core Score
4555

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core
1684 +7.7%
1517 -2.9%
1455 -6.9%
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
3101 +17.9%
2919 +10.9%
2414 -8.2%
2158 -18%
Geekbench 5 Single Core
1452 +8.8%
1290 -3.3%
1246 -6.6%
Geekbench 5 Multi Core
2713 +10.8%
2597 +6%
2293 -6.4%
2125 -13.2%
Passmark CPU Single Core
2824 +3.6%
2765 +1.5%
2685 -1.5%
2653 -2.6%
Passmark CPU Multi Core
5202 +14.2%
4835 +6.1%
4375 -4%
4121 -9.5%