Intel Pentium E6600 vs Intel Celeron E1200

The Intel Pentium E6600 was introduced in 2010 for budget-conscious desktop users, while the Intel Celeron E1200 was launched as an affordable entry-level solution in early 2008.

Technically, the Intel Pentium E6600 is based on the Wolfdale architecture and is manufactured using the more efficient 45-nanometer process. In contrast, the Intel Celeron E1200 uses the older Conroe architecture and is manufactured using the 65-nanometer process. Both processors have two cores and two threads.

In synthetic benchmarks, the Intel Pentium E6600 shows significantly higher single-core performance. It also benefits from its more efficient structure when processing multiple tasks simultaneously. This is primarily due to the 2 MB L2 cache, which is twice as large, and the higher memory bandwidth of 21 GB/s, while the Celeron only reaches 17 GB/s.

In gaming scenarios, the Intel Pentium E6600 provides a more solid foundation for smooth frame rates due to its more modern architecture and higher clock frequencies. The Intel Celeron E1200 quickly reaches its limits here due to its small 1 MB L2 cache. Both models are specified with a Thermal Design Power of 65 watts, with the Pentium converting the provided energy more effectively into computing power.

The price-performance ratio is more favorable for the Intel Pentium E6600, as it offers significantly more performance reserves for office applications. Today, the Intel Celeron E1200 is found almost exclusively on the used market for very small amounts. Overall, the Intel Pentium E6600 is the more sensible recommendation for almost all use cases.