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Intel Celeron G460

Intel Celeron G460: A Budget Solution for Niche Tasks in 2025

Sandy Bridge Architecture, 32nm, 1 Core / 2 Threads, TDP 35W

Key Features: An Outdated but Resilient Platform

The Intel Celeron G460 processor, released in 2011, belongs to the Sandy Bridge family—an architecture that made a breakthrough at the time by integrating a graphics core directly into the CPU die. However, in 2025, this chip appears archaic but still finds applications in specific scenarios.

Architecture and Technology

- Sandy Bridge (32nm): The first generation of Intel processors with AVX instruction support.

- 1 Core / 2 Threads: Hyper-Threading allows the processing of two data streams on a single physical core.

- Base Frequency: 1.8 GHz, without Turbo Boost.

- Cache: 1.5 MB L3.

- TDP: 35W—one of the most energy-efficient CPUs of its time.

Performance

According to Geekbench 6 (2025):

- Single-Core Score: 267 points.

- Multi-Core Score: 305 points.

For comparison, a modern budget processor like the Intel N100 (2023) scores around ~1200/2400 points. The Celeron G460 handles basic tasks, but even web surfing with 10+ tabs will cause slowdowns.

Key Features

- Integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics (6 Execution Units, 650–1000 MHz).

- PCIe 2.0 support (a limitation for modern drives).

- Lack of AES-NI instruction support, which is crucial for data encryption.

Compatible Motherboards: Hunting for Rarities

The Celeron G460 uses the LGA 1155 socket, limiting the choice of motherboards to outdated models.

Chipsets

- H61: A budget option without overclocking or USB 3.0 support.

- B65/Q67: Corporate solutions with SATA 6 Gbps ports.

- Z68/Z77: Premium segment with overclocking capabilities (though the G460 multiplier is locked).

Selection Tips

- New Boards: Practically non-existent in 2025. A few H61 motherboards cost $60–80 (for example, ASUS P8H61-M LX3).

- Used Market: Boards on Aliexpress or eBay—$20–40. Check the condition of the capacitors!

- Limitations: No NVMe support without BIOS modification, max 16 GB DDR3.

Memory: Only DDR3

The Celeron G460 works only with DDR3:

- Types: DDR3-1066/1333 MHz.

- Maximum Size: 32 GB (theoretically), but most boards support up to 16 GB.

- Dual-Channel Mode: Installing two identical modules is recommended (e.g., 2x4 GB).

Example Configuration

- 8 GB DDR3-1333 (2x4 GB) — $25–30 for new modules (e.g., Kingston ValueRAM).

Power Supply: Minimal Energy

With a TDP of 35W, even a complete system requires a power supply of 300–400W.

Recommendations

- Budget Option: EVGA 400W (80+ White, $35).

- With Headroom: Be Quiet! System Power 10 (450W, 80+ Bronze, $55).

- Important: Avoid cheap noname power supplies—they are a hazard for any PC.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

1. Energy Efficiency: Ideal for passive cooling systems.

2. Price: New processors (if found) cost $30–40.

3. Compact Size: Suitable for mini-PCs in Thin Mini-ITX cases.

Disadvantages

1. Weak Performance: Struggles with modern applications.

2. Outdated Standards: No USB 3.0, SATA 6 Gbps only on certain chipsets.

3. Compatibility Risks: New OS (Windows 11) are officially unsupported.

Use Cases

1. Office Tasks: Handling documents, email, Zoom (with reduced video quality).

2. Media Center: Playing Full HD through Kodi or Plex (but not 4K).

3. Retro Gaming: Games up to 2010 (e.g., Half-Life 2, World of Warcraft Classic).

4. Entry-Level Server: NAS based on OpenMediaVault (without encryption).

Real-World Experience

A user from Brazil built a budget PC using the Celeron G460 for studying:

- Motherboard: Gigabyte H61M-S1 ($25 used).

- 8 GB DDR3 + 240 GB SSD.

- Ubuntu Linux + LibreOffice.

Result: The system has been running for 5 years, but YouTube in 1080p is hard to load.

Comparison with Competitors

1. AMD E2-1800 (2012):

- Pros: Better graphics (Radeon HD 7340).

- Cons: Lower CPU performance (Geekbench 6: ~200/220).

2. Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (2016):

- More modern, supports DDR3L.

- Performance is on par with G460 but with a TDP of only 2W.

3. Raspberry Pi 5 (2023):

- Cost $60, power consumption 5W.

- Better suited for media centers but x86 compatibility is not crucial for everyone.

Building Tips

1. OS Selection:

- Windows 10 LTSC (support until 2029) or Linux (Lubuntu, Xubuntu).

- Drivers for Sandy Bridge are available in Linux kernel 5.15+.

2. Speed Optimization:

- An SSD is mandatory (e.g., Kingston A400 240GB — $25).

- Disable visual effects in Windows.

3. Cooling:

- The stock cooler is sufficient, but for a quiet system, a Noctua NH-L9i ($45) would be suitable.

Conclusion: Who is the Celeron G460 Suitable for in 2025?

This processor is a choice for:

- Enthusiasts building retro PCs.

- Budget office systems where cost minimization is crucial.

- Passive media centers (with extra payment for a silent case).

Alternatives for New Builds:

- Intel N100 ($120): Four times more powerful, DDR5 support.

- AMD Ryzen 3 3200G ($90 used): Powerful graphics, 4 cores.

The Celeron G460 is an example of the "longevity" of outdated technologies, but in 2025, it should only be considered as a temporary or niche solution.

Basic

Label Name

Intel

Platform

Desktop

Launch Date

December 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.

G460

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.

Basic Frequency

1.80 GHz

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.

Yes

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.

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.

32 nm

TDP

35 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

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

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).

17 GB/s

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.

650 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.

1.00 GHz

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.

1.5 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 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.

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6

Single Core Score

267

Geekbench 6

Multi Core Score

305

Geekbench 5

Single Core Score

311

Geekbench 5

Multi Core Score

393

Passmark CPU

Single Core Score

699

Passmark CPU

Multi Core Score

469

Compared to Other CPU

Geekbench 6 Single Core

Celeron G530T

366 +37.1%

A8-3820

321 +20.2%

Celeron G460

267

Opteron 6276

198 -25.8%

Atom N2800

88 -67%

Geekbench 6 Multi Core

Celeron 3865U

693 +127.2%

Pentium B980

601 +97%

Core i3-2377M

500 +63.9%

A6-4455M

336 +10.2%

Celeron G460

305

Geekbench 5 Single Core

Celeron 7305L

377 +21.2%

Pentium P6300

346 +11.3%

Celeron G460

311

Xeon Gold 5118

260 -16.4%

Core i3-2375M

192 -38.3%

Geekbench 5 Multi Core

A6-5400B

688 +75.1%

A4-6320

588 +49.6%

Pentium U5600

471 +19.8%

Celeron G460

393

Atom Z2480

94 -76.1%

Passmark CPU Single Core

Celeron B840

918 +31.3%

Celeron G465

819 +17.2%

Celeron G460

699

Celeron 867

584 -16.5%

Celeron N2910

447 -36.1%

Passmark CPU Multi Core

Celeron G550T

1102 +135%

Celeron 1017U

888 +89.3%

A4-3320M

668 +42.4%

Celeron G460

469

Celeron B710

106 -77.4%