Intel Celeron N2910
Intel Celeron N2910: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks — 2025 Review
Introduction
Even in 2025, ultra-budget laptops remain on the market, positioned as "devices for basic tasks." One such solution is the Intel Celeron N2910 processor, released back in the mid-2010s. Despite its archaic architecture, this chip still appears in new laptops priced between $200 and $300. Let's explore who might find it useful and who should look for alternatives.
1. Architecture and Process Technology: An Outdated Platform
Bay Trail-M: The 22 nm Era
The Celeron N2910 is built on the Bay Trail-M architecture, which debuted in 2013. It is manufactured using a 22-nanometer process technology, which seems outdated in 2025 compared to the 5–7 nm process of modern chips. The processor features 4 cores and 4 threads (without Hyper-Threading support), operating at a base frequency of 1.6 GHz with no turbo mode. The Silvermont cores that form the basis of Bay Trail are optimized for low power consumption, but their IPC (instructions per clock) is significantly lower than that of contemporary Intel or AMD cores.
Integrated Graphics
The integrated GPU is Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail generation) with 4 execution units (EUs) and a frequency of up to 756 MHz. This solution is suitable only for basic image output and 1080p video decoding. Even the simplest 3D games like Minecraft at minimum settings will barely be playable.
2. TDP of 7W: Silence and Compactness at the Cost of Performance
The nominal TDP of the processor is 7W, allowing it to operate without active cooling. This is a key advantage of the chip: laptops equipped with it are thin (up to 15 mm) and completely silent. However, the low TDP imposes strict performance limitations — the processor cannot sustain high frequencies for long due to overheating. In Cinebench R23 tests, the N2910 achieves around 200 points in multi-threaded workloads, which is 10 times lower than a budget Intel Core i3 from the 13th generation.
3. Performance: Just the Basics
Office Tasks
- Web Browsing: Struggles with 5–7 tabs open in Chrome. Pages with heavy JavaScript (like Google Docs) might lag.
- Document Editing: Word, Excel — acceptable, but opening files with many formulas or charts takes time.
- Video Calls: Zoom or Google Meet works at minimal settings (720p). Background blur or virtual backgrounds cause lag.
Multimedia
- Video: 1080p decoding via hardware codecs (H.264), but it cannot handle 4K or VP9.
- Audio: No problems.
- Image Editing: Only basic operations in apps like Paint.NET. Photoshop CC 2025 will be unbearably slow.
Gaming
- Older Games: Half-Life 2 (2004) — 30–40 FPS at low settings.
- Indie Projects: Stardew Valley — playable, but freezing may occur.
- Cloud Gaming: The only option for modern games (with stable internet).
4. Use Cases: Who is the N2910 For?
- Students for note-taking and online courses.
- Older users who need a cheap laptop for email and Skype.
- Travelers who value portability and battery life.
- Corporate clients for terminals in offices or warehouses.
Categorically Unsuitable For:
- Freelancers working with graphics.
- Gamers (except retro game enthusiasts).
- Anyone using multiple programs simultaneously (e.g., browser + Excel + messengers).
5. Battery Life: Is 10 Hours a Myth or Reality?
With a battery capacity of 40–45 Wh (typical for budget models), the N2910 provides 6–8 hours of usage in document reading mode. However, with active Wi-Fi use and screen backlighting, this time shrinks to 4–5 hours. Energy-saving technologies are limited:
- Intel SpeedStep — dynamic frequency management.
- C-states — voltage reduction during idle time.
But due to the outdated architecture, the efficiency of these methods is lower than that of modern processors.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (2020):
- 2 cores / 4 threads, 6W TDP.
- Geekbench 6 score: 550 (Single), 1100 (Multi).
- Laptop prices: starting at $350.
Apple M1 (2020):
- Even the 5-year-old M1 outperforms the N2910 by 8 times.
- Laptops with M1 are now priced from $500 (new).
Intel Celeron N5100 (2021):
- 4 cores / 4 threads, 10nm, 6W TDP.
- Geekbench 6: 650 (Single), 1800 (Multi).
Conclusion: The N2910 lags behind even budget models from 2020-2021.
7. Pros and Cons
Strengths:
- Laptop prices starting from $200.
- Passive cooling (no noise).
- Sufficient for basic tasks.
Weaknesses:
- Low performance.
- No support for modern standards (USB-C, Wi-Fi 6).
- Maximum of 8 GB of RAM (often comes with 4 GB).
8. Laptop Selection Recommendations
What to Look For:
- RAM: At least 8 GB. 4 GB in 2025 is torture even for Windows 11 Lite.
- Storage: Only SSD (256 GB). HDDs are a red flag.
- Screen: 1920×1080 resolution is rare in this segment, but 1366×768 is acceptable for text.
Examples of 2025 Models:
- HP Stream 14: $229, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB eMMC.
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 1: $279, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD.
Tip: If your budget allows $400, opt for laptops with Intel N100 (Alder Lake-N) or AMD Ryzen 3 7320U — they are 3–4 times faster.
9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Buy?
The Celeron N2910 is an option for those who:
- Are looking for the cheapest device for text and internet use.
- Do not plan to use the laptop for more than 2–3 years.
- Value silence and lightness (device weight is 1–1.3 kg).
Key Benefits:
- Price under $300.
- Battery life of 6+ hours.
- Compactness.
However, keep in mind: even budget Chromebooks with ARM processors at the same price will offer smoother performance. The N2910 is a last-resort economy choice, justified only for very tight budgets.