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Intel Celeron N4020 vs Intel Celeron J4125

Intel Celeron N4020

► remove from comparison Intel Celeron N4020

The Intel Celeron N4020 is a slow dual-core processor (SoC) of the Gemini Lake refresh product family; as such, it is designed for use in laptops and mini-PCs of the most affordable flavor. The Celeron was launched in Q4 2019. Its CPU cores run at 1.1 GHz to 2.8 GHz, the latter being a moderate 200 MHz upgrade over the preceding N4000 chip. Other key specs include a DDR4/LPDDR4 memory controller (up to 2,400 MHz and up to 8 GB, with independent reports claiming as much as 32 GB will work just fine) and an integrated UHD 600 graphics adapter.

Architecture & Features

Just like Apollo Lake family products, the ever-popular N3350 included, the N4020 is manufactured on a really old, as of late 2023, 14 nm process. What makes the newer Celerons different are the slightly improved processor cores with double the L2 cache and also, somewhat counterintuitively, a reduction in physical size.

The Goldmont Plus microarchitecture is not much different from what was used in Gemini Lake processors like the N4000. A relatively large 4 MB L2 cache features prominently on the rather short list of N4020's strong sides, allowing for a marginal increase in performance-per-MHz figures compared to processors of previous generations. Still, Gemini Lake refresh processors are a clear step down from Core i3/i5/i7/i9 series processors, both in performance and in features.

The N4020 has six PCI-Express 2.0 lanes at its disposal. While very few N4020-based SBCs, nettops and laptops feature an NVMe M.2 slot, you can use an NVMe SSD as a boot drive with this processor (read/write rates will be limited to 2 GB/s, though). Furthermore, partial Wi-Fi 5 support is built into the CPU. The Celeron also supports up to eight USB 3.0 ports and two SATA III storage devices.

Please note this is not a user-replaceable CPU. They solder it straight to the motherboard for good (BGA1090 socket interface).

Performance

While slightly faster than the outgoing Celeron N4000, the average N4020 in our extensive database only just manages to match the N6211, as far as multi-thread performance is concerned. These three chips deliver multi-thread CB R15, CB R20 and CB R23 scores that are so low, they lag behind a single-thread score of any half-decent CPU such as an i5-1135G7. In other words, these Celeron N chips are good enough for basic tasks only such as word processing and Web browsing with two or three tabs open at a time.

The Celeron N4120, a quad-core chip with a similar name, has little trouble leaving the N4020 behind in most workloads - which is not to say it is a fast CPU.

Jacking the long-term power limit value up to something like 9 W will help improve system responsiveness noticeably.

Graphics

The UHD Graphics 600 is based on Intel's Generation 9 architecture, much like the  HD Graphics 520 or the UHD Graphics 615 or other widespread Intel iGPUs found in Core i3/i5/i7/i9 processors of generations six to ten.

Just like the HD Graphics 500, the UHD Graphics 600 is DX12 compatible. The iGPU's 12 EUs can run at up to 650 MHz. The Iris Plus G7 iGPU that certain 10th Gen Ice Lake processors have packs 64 EUs, for reference. As a low-end solution, UHD Graphics 600 will let you play some seriously old titles, but that's about as far as its talents go.

Perhaps more importantly, this graphics solution can drive up to 3 monitors with resolutions as high as 4096x2160@60. Furthermore, it will have no trouble HW-decoding AVC, HEVC and VP9-encoded videos. The newer AV1 codec will be decoded via software, with the limited CPU horsepower imposing a limit on video resolutions that can be played back without stuttering. 1080p60 videos are out of reach while 720p25 videos run fine, to give you an example.

Power consumption

The low 6 W TDP (also known as the long-term Power Limit) makes it easy for laptop makers to ditch the fan. Performance sustainability will be poor unless the long-term Power Limit is set to a value higher than the default 6 W and a fan is available to aid in heat dissipation.

The Celeron N4020 is built with one of the old 14 nm Intel processes for poor, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.

Intel Celeron J4125

► remove from comparison Intel Celeron J4125

The Intel Celeron J4125 is a quad-core SoC primarily for inexpensive mini PCs and was announced late 2019. It runs at 2-2.7 GHz (Single Core Burst) and is based on the Gemini Lake platform (2019 refresh). Compared to the predecessor, the refresh offers slightly higher clock speeds. Similar to the Apollo Lake predecessors, the chip is manufactured on a 14 nm process with FinFETs but offers slightly improved processor cores, double the amount of L2 cache, partial Wi-Fi 5 support, all in a smaller package. Besides four CPU cores, the chip also includes a DirectX 12 capable GPU as well as a DDR4/LPDDR4 memory controller (dual-channel, up to 2400 MHz). The processor is not replaceable as it is directly soldered to the mainboard.

Architecture

The processor architecture is still called Goldmont Plus. Compared to the older Goldmont cores in Apollo Lake, they feature an increased level 2 cache (to 4 MB). That means the per-clock-performance should be a bit better, but not near the Core CPUs like Kaby Lake Y.

Performance

The average J4125 in our database outguns the AMD 3050e just slightly, the latter being a dual-core, Zen-based, entry-level processor of nearly the same energy efficiency, as far as multi-thread benchmark scores are concerned. This means the Celeron is a very basic CPU that's good for basic day-to-day activities only.

The Beelink GK Mini is one of the fastest systems built around the J4125 that we know of. It can be roughly 70% faster in CPU-bound workloads than the slowest system featuring the same chip in our database, as of August 2023.

GPU Performance

The UHD Graphics 600 (Gemini Lake) is based on Intel's Gen9 architecture, which supports DirectX 12 and is also used for the Kaby Lake / Skylake / Apollo Lake graphics adapters (like HD Graphics 520). Equipped with 12 EUs and a clock of up to 750 MHz, the performance should be roughly on par with the older HD Graphics 500 (Apollo Lake).

The chip also includes an advanced video engine with hardware support for the playback of VP9 and H.265 material (8-bit color-depth).

Power consumption

Like most J-class Intel processors, the Celeron has a default TDP, also known as the long-term power limit, of 10 W. This is low enough, allowing laptop makers to ditch fans while building a passively cooled laptop, tablet or mini-PC around the chip.

The Intel Celeron J4125 is built with one of the old 14 nm Intel processes for poor, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.

ModelIntel Celeron N4020Intel Celeron J4125
SeriesIntel Gemini LakeIntel Gemini Lake
CodenameGemini Lake refreshGemini Lake Refresh
Series: Gemini Lake Gemini Lake Refresh
Intel Pentium Silver J5040 compare2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Pentium Silver N5030 compare1.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Celeron J41252 - 2.7 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Celeron N4120 compare1.1 - 2.6 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Celeron J4025 compare2 - 2.9 GHz2 / 2 cores
Intel Celeron N4020 « 1.1 - 2.8 GHz2 / 2 cores
Intel Pentium Silver J5040 compare2 - 3.2 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Pentium Silver N5030 compare1.1 - 3.1 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Celeron J4125 « 2 - 2.7 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Celeron N4120 compare1.1 - 2.6 GHz4 / 4 cores
Intel Celeron J4025 compare2 - 2.9 GHz2 / 2 cores
Intel Celeron N40201.1 - 2.8 GHz2 / 2 cores
Clock1100 - 2800 MHz2000 - 2700 MHz
L2 Cache4 MB4 MB
Cores / Threads2 / 24 / 4
TDP6 Watt10 Watt
TDP Turbo PL215 Watt
Technology14 nm14 nm
SocketBGA1090BGA1090
FeaturesDDR4-2400/LPDDR4-2400 RAM, PCIe 2, MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, VMX, SMEP, SMAP, MPX, EIST, TM1, TM2, Turbo, AES-NI, RDRAND, RDSEED, SHA, SGXDDR4-2400/LPDDR4-2400 RAM, PCIe 2, MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, VMX, SMEP, SMAP, MPX, EIST, TM1, TM2, Turbo, AES-NI, RDRAND, RDSEED, SHA, SGX
iGPUIntel UHD Graphics 600 (200 - 650 MHz)Intel UHD Graphics 600 (250 - 750 MHz)
Architecturex86x86
Announced
Manufacturerark.intel.comark.intel.com
max. Temp.105 °C

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - Celeron N4020
16.1 pt (22%)
Performance Rating - CB R15 + R20 + 7-Zip + X265 + Blender + 3DM11 CPU - Celeron J4125
17.8 pt (25%)
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Multi Core
616 Points (1%)
min: 860     avg: 1203     median: 1186 (1%)     max: 1563 Points
Cinebench R23 - Cinebench R23 Single Core
308 Points (13%)
min: 392     avg: 425.3     median: 438 (19%)     max: 446 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Single Core)
min: 149.8     avg: 162.4     median: 162.4 (18%)     max: 175 Points
min: 155     avg: 166.2     median: 170 (19%)     max: 174 Points
Cinebench R20 - Cinebench R20 CPU (Multi Core)
min: 242     avg: 279     median: 279 (1%)     max: 316 Points
min: 304     avg: 449.2     median: 430 (1%)     max: 610 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
min: 110.1     avg: 127.1     median: 127.1 (1%)     max: 144.1 Points
min: 148     avg: 223.4     median: 243 (2%)     max: 271 Points
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64 Bit
min: 68.6     avg: 73.8     median: 73.8 (22%)     max: 78.9 Points
min: 63.1     avg: 72.5     median: 75.3 (23%)     max: 79.1 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64 Bit
1.7 Points (2%)
min: 2.13     avg: 2.8     median: 3.1 (4%)     max: 3.09 Points
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64 Bit
0.9 Points (23%)
min: 0.84     avg: 0.9     median: 0.9 (21%)     max: 0.92 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (32bit)
2184 Points (13%)
min: 2070     avg: 2159     median: 2112 (13%)     max: 2295 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (32bit)
4427 Points (3%)
min: 4102     avg: 6188     median: 7128 (5%)     max: 7335 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Multi (64bit)
min: 9697     avg: 10201     median: 10201 (7%)     max: 10705 Points
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Rend. Single (64bit)
min: 3669     avg: 3690     median: 3690 (4%)     max: 3711 Points
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 1024m *
932 s (11%)
min: 566     avg: 608     median: 603 (7%)     max: 654.159 s
wPrime 2.10 - wPrime 2.0 32m *
29.7 s (6%)
min: 17.3     avg: 18     median: 17.4 (3%)     max: 19.42 s
WinRAR - WinRAR 4.0
766 Points (1%)
min: 1019     avg: 1069     median: 1048 (2%)     max: 1140 Points
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Multli Thread 4 runs
4498 MIPS (3%)
min: 5694     avg: 7248     median: 7494 (4%)     max: 8399 MIPS
7-Zip 18.03 - 7-Zip 18.03 Single Thread 4 runs
2456 MIPS (29%)
min: 2237     avg: 2358     median: 2369 (28%)     max: 2444 MIPS
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 2
10 fps (3%)
min: 11.31     avg: 13.7     median: 13.1 (5%)     max: 16.75 fps
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0 - x264 Pass 1
50.1 fps (12%)
min: 52.6     avg: 64.3     median: 61.4 (14%)     max: 78.9 fps
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - HWBOT x265 4k Preset
min: 0.73     avg: 0.8     median: 0.8 (1%)     max: 0.92 fps
min: 0.95     avg: 1.4     median: 1.5 (3%)     max: 1.61 fps
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Serpent
0.1 GB/s (0%)
min: 0.163     avg: 0.2     median: 0.2 (0%)     max: 0.182 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt Twofish
0.1 GB/s (2%)
min: 0.196     avg: 0.2     median: 0.3 (5%)     max: 0.266 GB/s
TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt AES
1 GB/s (2%)
min: 1.8     avg: 1.8     median: 1.8 (5%)     max: 1.9 GB/s
Blender - Blender 3.3 Classroom CPU *
7856 Seconds (100%)
Blender - Blender 2.79 BMW27 CPU *
4064 Seconds (29%)
min: 2198     avg: 2772     median: 2391 (17%)     max: 3860 Seconds
R Benchmark 2.5 - R Benchmark 2.5 *
1.5 sec (33%)
min: 1.525     avg: 1.6     median: 1.6 (34%)     max: 1.579 sec
3DMark 06 - CPU - 3DMark 06 - CPU
2495 Points (5%)
min: 2373     avg: 3327     median: 3740 (8%)     max: 3869 Points
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 1M *
24.2 s (5%)
min: 24.57     avg: 31.6     median: 24.6 (5%)     max: 45.52 s
Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 2M *
53.9 s (2%)
min: 55.9     avg: 68.9     median: 57.4 (2%)     max: 93.4 s
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - Super Pi mod 1.5 XS 32M *
1220 s (5%)
min: 1332.53     avg: 3652     median: 1845 (8%)     max: 7778 s
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. CPU no Physx
min: 3522     avg: 5431     median: 5430.5 (5%)     max: 7339 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Physics
min: 1560     avg: 1650     median: 1650 (4%)     max: 1740 Points
min: 2348     avg: 2705     median: 2706 (7%)     max: 2986 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Physics
min: 10102     avg: 19782     median: 19782 (16%)     max: 29462 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme Physics
min: 11105     avg: 23313     median: 29231 (24%)     max: 29602 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 17507     avg: 26606     median: 26606 (22%)     max: 35705 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Physics
1286 Points (3%)
min: 1196     avg: 2273     median: 2485 (6%)     max: 2804 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Physics
min: 1852     avg: 1853     median: 1853 (3%)     max: 1854 Points
min: 1602     avg: 3372     median: 3689 (7%)     max: 4271 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy CPU
476 Points (2%)
min: 876     avg: 994     median: 984 (4%)     max: 1122 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 319     avg: 418.7     median: 462 (19%)     max: 475 Points
min: 435     avg: 454.2     median: 455 (19%)     max: 466 Points
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 663     avg: 786     median: 836 (1%)     max: 858 Points
min: 1198     avg: 1367     median: 1394 (2%)     max: 1512 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 451     avg: 455.7     median: 453 (2%)     max: 463 Points
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 1163     avg: 1388     median: 1482 (5%)     max: 1519 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 1989     avg: 2004     median: 2004 (20%)     max: 2019 Points
min: 1922     avg: 1948     median: 1924 (19%)     max: 1997 Points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 3404     avg: 3433     median: 3433 (4%)     max: 3462 Points
min: 4246     avg: 5158     median: 5468 (6%)     max: 5761 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 2300     avg: 2488     median: 2488 (3%)     max: 2676 ms
min: 2216     avg: 2258     median: 2276 (3%)     max: 2291 ms
WebXPRT 4 - WebXPRT 4 Score
min: 49.4     avg: 55.3     median: 55.3 (16%)     max: 61.1 Points
68.2 Points (20%)
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
min: 76.2     avg: 80.2     median: 80.2 (17%)     max: 84.2 Points
min: 86.2     avg: 89.2     median: 88.7 (18%)     max: 93.2 Points
CrossMark - CrossMark Overall
310 Points (12%)
340 Points (13%)
Power Consumption - Prime95 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
12.5 Watt (2%)
min: 7.87     avg: 12.5     median: 12.4 (2%)     max: 17.4 Watt
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Consumption - external Monitor *
10.1 Watt (2%)
min: 9.24     avg: 11     median: 11.4 (2%)     max: 12.3 Watt
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption - external Monitor *
3.2 Watt (2%)
Power Consumption - Idle Power Consumption 150cd 1min *
6.9 Watt (8%)
Power Consumption - Cinebench R15 Multi Power Efficiency - external Monitor
14.3 Points per Watt (11%)
min: 13     avg: 18.4     median: 19.8 (15%)     max: 22.4 Points per Watt

Average Benchmarks Intel Celeron N4020 → 100% n=39

Average Benchmarks Intel Celeron J4125 → 139% n=39

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

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v1.26
log 28. 20:09:27

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#1 checking url part for id 12749 +0s ... 0s

#2 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#3 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:35:32 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#4 composed specs +0.037s ... 0.037s

#5 did output specs +0s ... 0.037s

#6 getting avg benchmarks for device 11535 +0.016s ... 0.054s

#7 got single benchmarks 11535 +0.054s ... 0.107s

#8 getting avg benchmarks for device 12749 +0.015s ... 0.122s

#9 got single benchmarks 12749 +0.016s ... 0.138s

#10 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.138s

#11 min, max, avg, median took s +0.292s ... 0.43s

#12 return log +0.023s ... 0.453s

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)