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Intel Celeron G1620

Intel Celeron G1620 in 2025: A Budget Processor for Narrow Tasks

A Current Review of an Obsolete Chip and Tips for Building a PC Based on It

1. Key Specifications: What's Inside?

Architecture and Process Technology

The Intel Celeron G1620, released in 2013, is based on the Ivy Bridge microarchitecture (codename) with a 22nm process technology. This is a dual-core processor without Hyper-Threading support (2 cores / 2 threads), with a base clock speed of 2.7 GHz. The L3 cache is a mere 2 MB, which in 2025 seems extremely modest even for office tasks.

Performance

According to Geekbench 6 (2025):

- Single-Core Test: 386 points.

- Multi-Core Test: 635 points.

In comparison, modern budget processors like the Intel Celeron G6900 (2023) score over 1200 points in single-core tests. The G1620 is only suitable for basic operations: document editing, web browsing, and running light applications.

Key Features

- Low power consumption (TDP 55W).

- Integrated Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge generation).

- Support for SSE4.1/4.2 instructions, but lack of AVX, limiting compatibility with modern software.

2. Compatible Motherboards

Socket and Chipsets

The processor uses the LGA 1155 socket. Compatible chipsets include:

- H61, B75, H77, Q75 — basic models supporting DDR3 and PCIe 2.0.

- Z77 — for overclocking, but the G1620 has a locked multiplier.

Choosing in 2025

New motherboards for LGA 1155 have not been produced since 2014. The only option is the second-hand market or leftover old stock.

- Example Models: ASUS P8H61-M LE (used – $15–25), Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H (used – $20–30).

- Tip: Check the condition of capacitors and connectors. Avoid motherboards with damaged PCIe slots.

3. Supported Memory

The G1620 works only with DDR3 (up to 32 GB, depending on the chipset). Frequencies:

- 1066 MHz — nominal support.

- 1333–1600 MHz — in overclocking mode (XMP), if the motherboard chipset allows.

Recommendations:

- Use a dual-channel configuration (2×4 GB DDR3-1600) to enhance integrated graphics performance.

- Avoid DDR3L (1.35V) without checking compatibility — some older boards may not support the lower voltage.

4. Power Supply: How Many Watts Do You Need?

With a TDP of 55W and no discrete graphics card, a power supply in the range of 300–400W is sufficient for the system. However, it's important to consider:

- Power Supply Quality: Cheap models (e.g., $20–30) often do not meet claimed specifications.

- Recommended Models:

- EVGA 400 W (80+ White, $35–45).

- Corsair CX450 (80+ Bronze, $50–60).

Example Build:

- G1620 + 8 GB DDR3 + 240 GB SSD + 500 GB HDD → power consumption will not exceed 100W under load.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Price: A used processor can be purchased for $5–10 (2025).

- Energy Efficiency: Suitable for building low-power PCs (e.g., a home file server).

- Compatibility with Windows 10/11: Drivers are available, but performance in Win11 will be low.

Cons:

- Weak Performance: Not suitable for multitasking, modern browsers (Chrome with 10+ tabs), or 4K video.

- Outdated Technology: Lack of USB 3.0 (depends on the chipset), SATA II on some boards.

- No Upgrade Path: The maximum for LGA 1155 is the Core i7-3770K, which is also outdated.

6. Use Cases

Office Tasks

- Document work (Word, Excel), email, Zoom conferences (in 720p).

- Limitation: Running multiple applications simultaneously will cause slowdowns.

Multimedia

- Video playback: 1080p (YouTube) → acceptable; 4K → not supported.

- Tip: Use an external player (e.g., VLC) for GPU decoding.

Gaming

- Only older titles: Half-Life 2, Minecraft (on low settings).

- Integrated Graphics: 5–10 FPS in CS:GO (1280×720).

7. Comparison with Competitors

AMD Athlon II X2 270 (2011)

- Pros: Cheaper ($3–5 used), similar performance.

- Cons: Higher TDP (65W), the AM3 platform is even less relevant.

Intel Pentium G3220 (Haswell, 2013)

- Pros: +15% performance, AVX support.

- Cons: Costs $10–15 used, requires LGA 1150 socket.

8. Practical Assembly Tips

- SSD is Essential: Kingston A400 240 GB ($25) will speed up system loading.

- Graphics Card: Adding a Radeon RX 550 (used, $30) will improve graphics performance, but CPU will become a bottleneck.

- Cooling: The standard cooler is sufficient — even under load, temperatures do not exceed 60°C.

9. Final Verdict: Who Is the G1620 For?

This processor should be considered only in three cases:

1. Building an ultra-budget PC for basic tasks (e.g., a printing terminal in a library).

2. Upgrading an old computer (if the motherboard is already available).

3. Experimentation: Learning PC assembly, creating a Linux-based router.

Alternative for 2025: New processors like the Intel N100 (4 cores, TDP 6W, $120) offer 3–4 times higher performance at a similar system price.

Conclusion: The Intel Celeron G1620 in 2025 is a relic of the past, relevant only for niche scenarios. Its main advantage is price, but even budget modern solutions leave it far behind.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

January 2013

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.

G1620

Code Name

Ivi 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.

Basic Frequency

2.70 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.

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.

FCLGA1155

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.

22 nm

TDP

55 W

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

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.

up to 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 1333

Max Memory Size

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

32 GB

Memory Channels

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

Bus Speed

5 GT/s

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 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.

Yes

GPU Specifications

GPU Name

Intel® HD Graphics for 3rd Generation Intel® Processors

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.

1.05 GHz

Graphics Base Frequency

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

650 MHz

Number of Displays Supported

Miscellaneous

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.

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

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

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.

2 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.

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 Quick Sync Video

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

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

386

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

635

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

476

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

859

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

1448

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

1556

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Athlon X4 730

452 +17.1%

Core i3-10110Y

419 +8.5%

Celeron G1620

386

Xeon E5-2403 v2

349 -9.6%

Celeron 2980U

306 -20.7%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Pentium N4200

868 +36.7%

Core i5-2557M

722 +13.7%

Celeron G1620

635

E2-3200

521 -18%

A8-3510MX

383 -39.7%

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Pentium Silver J5040

507 +6.5%

PRO A12-8870

493 +3.6%

Celeron G1620

476

Pentium G620

457 -4%

A6 PRO-7400B

441 -7.4%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

Celeron 7305L

1041 +21.2%

Pentium G3450T

938 +9.2%

Celeron G1620

859

A4-7300

790 -8%

A4 PRO-7300B

697 -18.9%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Celeron G3900E

1499 +3.5%

Xeon D-1581

1482 +2.3%

Celeron G1620

1448

A6-6400K

1423 -1.7%

A8 PRO-7600B

1390 -4%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Pentium G2120

1892 +21.6%

Core i3-3120M

1692 +8.7%

Celeron G1620

1556

Celeron G1610T

1393 -10.5%

Celeron 3855U

1274 -18.1%