There are debates that have been going on for years about which is the best…

• console between PlayStation and Xbox?
• Spider-Man between Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield?
• CPU between Celeron and Pentium?

Luckily, we can give an answer to the last one.

If you are evaluating which CPU is best for you between Pentium and Celeron and you don’t know which one to choose, you are in the right place.

True, these processors are often mentioned together, but in fact there are a few differences to take into account before choosing one or the other, despite the many features they have in common.

Before we begin, however, we should quickly dispel a myth: it is not true that Pentium and Celeron are ‘slow’ or ‘low quality’ processors. They do belong to the lower-mid range of the CPU Olympus, but that doesn’t mean that they should be discarded no matter what for a high-performance PC.

On the contrary, many customers initially think they need an i3, when a Celeron for their applications would be more than enough. It would be like buying a state-of-the-art electric mountain bike to get to the top of Boccon di Vo’ (a very famous location in the Euganean Hills, 72m above sea level). Everyone has their own preferences, but let’s say that a bike of this level would be slightly oversized for this use.

In this article, we will look at the differentiating aspects of the Celeron, those of the Pentium, and the applications for which they are respectively best suited.

Intel Celeron: low-power processors

The Intel Celeron CPU stands out for its relationship between performance and low power consumption: it is a dual-core CPU with 2 threads, with a maximum frequency of 2.7 GHz, and on average consumes 10-15 watts.

From the 7th generation onwards, they have Intel UHD graphics and can drive up to 2 independent monitors, even in 4K.

For which applications is the Celeron recommended?

The Celeron is particularly suitable for:

• monitoring of machinery, e.g. for laser cutting;
• using management software, checking orders on machines, opening work orders, and other activities in production.

So, industrial (and other) applications that do not require excessive data processing capacity or high graphics.

Intel Pentium: the most powerful version

The distinguishing feature of the Intel Pentium is power: unlike the Celeron, the Pentium is quad-core, has 4 threads and a slightly higher maximum frequency (2.8 GHz).

At board level, however, it remains similar to the Celeron, having Intel UHD graphics and the ability to manage 2 independent displays, even in 4K (again starting with the 7th generation).

For which applications is the Pentium recommended?

The Pentium is particularly suitable for:

• automation systems;
• robotics and HMI (Human Machine Interface);
• digital and interactive kiosks;
• video processing and camera control.

Table of Pentium and Celeron differences

Here is a summary table comparing the Intel Celeron J4005 and the Intel Pentium Silver J5005, highlighting the main differences:

Celeron or Pentium: which one is right for you? Let us tell you

To summarise, both are high-performance CPUs, allowing you to perform basic tasks while saving both power consumption and money (avoiding buying oversized PCs).

The Celeron is perfect for basic applications that don’t require a high data processing speed but where continuous operation (even 24/7) is needed and low power consumption is preferable.

The Pentium, on the other hand, is suitable for more advanced applications requiring higher performance.

If your application requires more in-depth analysis or you still have doubts about which processor is actually best suited for your specific case, you can request a free consultation with our technicians. We will examine your needs and PC usage environment to recommend the most suitable Kimera model for your application.

In the meantime, check out our line of industrial PCs. Request a quote or a 15-day free trial now!

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