Home / Intel Celeron / Intel Celeron 787: Performance and Specs

Intel Celeron 787

Intel Celeron 787 (Sandy Bridge): An Outdated Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025

Architecture, Power Consumption, Performance, and Relevance in Modern Reality

Introduction

The Intel Celeron 787 processor, released in 2011 as part of the Sandy Bridge platform, is an example of a budget chip designed for low-demand laptops. Although this model is technically outdated in 2025, it can still be found in ultra-budget new devices from lesser-known brands. In this article, we will examine who might benefit from such a CPU today and how competitive it remains.

Architecture and Process Technology

Single Core, Minimal Capabilities

The Celeron 787 is based on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture (2nd generation Intel Core). It is a 32nm processor with 1 core and 1 thread (no Hyper-Threading). The clock speed is fixed at 1.3 GHz, and there is no turbo mode.

Integrated Graphics (iGPU): Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) with 6 execution units (EU). It supports basic video decoding (e.g., 1080p through hardware codecs), but is unsuitable for gaming or rendering.

Cache Memory: A modest 512 KB L2 and 2 MB L3, which limits data processing speed.

Power Consumption and TDP

The processor's TDP (Thermal Design Power) is 17W, which is typical for entry-level mobile solutions. This allows for passive cooling or compact heatsinks, reducing noise and weight of the device.

However, a low TDP does not always imply high energy efficiency. The 2011 architecture lags behind modern chips (such as Intel Alder Lake-N or AMD Mendocino) in terms of "performance per watt."

Performance in Real-World Tasks

Office Work

The Celeron 787 can handle:

- Word processing in Word or Google Docs.

- Viewing PDF files.

- Working with small Excel spreadsheets (up to 1000 rows).

Issues:

- Slow processing of documents with graphics.

- Delays when simultaneously opening a browser (e.g., Chrome with 3–5 tabs) and an office application.

Multimedia

- Video: Playback of 1080p via VLC or YouTube (downgrade quality to 720p in the browser).

- Music and Photos: Listening to tracks, basic image editing in Paint.NET (not Photoshop).

Gaming

Even older games like Half-Life 2 or World of Warcraft: Classic will run at low settings with a frame rate of 20–25 FPS. Modern titles (Minecraft with mods, Fortnite) are inaccessible.

Usage Scenarios

The Celeron 787 is suitable for:

1. Senior users who need a laptop for Zoom calls, reading news, and typing.

2. Children as a first device for studying.

3. A backup device for trips where the risk of loss or damage is high.

Do not consider it for:

- Graphic work, video editing.

- Running virtual machines or programming.

- Multitasking (e.g., music streaming + open browser).

Battery Life

Laptops with the Celeron 787 often come with batteries rated at 35–40 Wh. Under moderate load (web browsing), the battery life reaches 5–6 hours. However, due to the lack of modern energy-saving technologies (such as those found in Intel's 7nm chips), under heavy use, battery life can drop to 2–3 hours.

Energy Saving Features:

- Intel SpeedStep — dynamic frequency scaling.

- Power saver mode in OS (e.g., Windows 11 in "Battery saver" mode).

Comparison with Competitors

Analogues from 2011–2013:

- AMD E-300 (2 cores, 1.3 GHz): Better for multi-threaded tasks but weaker in single-threaded ones.

- Intel Atom Z2760 (2 cores, 1.8 GHz): Lower TDP (2W), but lower performance.

Modern Analogues (2025):

- Intel Processor N100 (4 cores, 6W TDP): 3–4 times faster, supports Wi-Fi 6, laptops starting at $250.

- AMD Athlon Silver 7120U (2 cores, 15W): 50% better performance, device prices starting at $300.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Low price of laptops (new models — $180–220).

- Adequate for basic tasks.

- Compact and quiet devices.

Weaknesses:

- No support for modern standards: USB-C, Wi-Fi 6.

- Maximum 4–8 GB RAM (DDR3).

- Low storage speeds (often eMMC instead of SSD).

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

If you decide to purchase a device with the Celeron 787:

1. Type of device: Ultra-budget laptop or netbook (e.g., models like Chuwi Minibook).

2. Essential parameters:

- SSD of 128 GB (not eMMC!).

- 8 GB RAM (for Windows 11 operation).

- Screen resolution of 1920×1080 (avoid 1366×768 — this is an outdated standard).

3. Avoid: Laptops with HDDs, 4 GB RAM, and TN screens.

Example model from 2025:

- Vorke V3 — 11.6" IPS screen, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, price — $199.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Celeron 787 is a processor that in 2025 should only be considered in exceptional cases:

- When on a limited budget ($150–200).

- For tasks where accessibility is more important than speed.

Key Benefits:

- Extremely low cost.

- Support for fundamental OS and application functionalities.

However, even in the budget segment, it is better to spend an additional $50–100 for a laptop with an Intel N100 or AMD Athlon Silver — this will provide a performance buffer for the next 2–3 years. The Celeron 787, on the other hand, may serve as a "digital typewriter" for those who need a computer only for the simplest operations.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Mobile

Launch Date

July 2011

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.

787

Code Name

Sandy Bridge

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).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

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.

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.

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

FCBGA1023

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.

32 nm

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100C

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.

2.0

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.

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

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

PCI Express Configurations

PCI Express (PCIe) Configurations describe the available PCIe lane configurations that can be used to link to PCIe devices.

1x16 | 2x8 | 1x8 2x4

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.

DDR3 1066/1333

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

16 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

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).

21.3 GB/s

ECC Memory Supported

ECC Memory Supported indicates processor support for Error-Correcting Code memory. ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics for 2nd Generation Intel® Processors

Graphics Base Frequency

Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.

350 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.

950 MHz

Number of Displays Supported

Graphics Output

Graphics Output defines the interfaces available to communicate with display devices.

eDP/DP/HDMI/SDVO/CRT

Miscellaneous

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.

Instruction Set Extensions

Intel® SSE4.1 | Intel® SSE4.2

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

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.

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.

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 InTru 3D Technology

Intel Flex Memory Access

Yes

Intel Quick Sync Video

Intel® Quick Sync Video delivers fast conversion of video for portable media players, online sharing, and video editing and authoring.