Intel Celeron G4900T

The Intel Celeron G4900T is a dual-core desktop processor from the Coffee Lake generation, built on Intel’s 14 nm process. It is an end-of-life product, launched on April 2, 2018, with a launch MSRP of $42. With a 35 W TDP and integrated UHD Graphics 610, this chip targets low-power, entry-level builds. The benchmark data places it at the 17th percentile among all CPUs, meaning it outperforms roughly one in six processors in the database. Its average benchmark score is 685, which puts it in direct competition with several older or low-power parts, as detailed below.

Benchmark Performance

The Celeron G4900T’s average benchmark score of 685 places it in a tight cluster with four near-identical rivals. The closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-5005U, which scores 686, a delta of -0.1% — meaning the G4900T is effectively tied with that mobile chip. Similarly, the Intel Core i3-3240 (a desktop part from an older generation) also scores 686, again a -0.1% difference. These two rivals are within statistical noise of the G4900T, so any performance edge is negligible in real-world terms. The Intel Core m5-6Y57 scores 684, a 0.2% delta in favor of the Celeron, while the Intel Celeron G3950 scores 683, a 0.3% advantage for the G4900T. In short, the G4900T sits at the dead center of a five-way tie, with no single part holding a meaningful lead.

Looking at specific workloads, the Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 1914. That is a low number by modern standards, consistent with a 2-core/2-thread design. In contrast, the single-core score in the same test is 270, which is proportionally much stronger — the multi-core score is only about 7 times the single-core score, reflecting the lack of additional threads. In Cinebench R20, the multi-core score is 803 and the single-core score is 113, a ratio of roughly 7.1. The older Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 192, which aligns with the same performance tier. Geekbench results tell a similar story: multi-core 940 and single-core 566, giving a multi-to-single ratio of about 1.66. That low ratio indicates that the processor does not scale well with multi-threaded workloads, which is expected for a dual-core without Hyper-Threading.

Compared to the nearest rivals, the G4900T’s multi-core performance is not a differentiator. The i3-5005U and i3-3240 both have higher average scores overall, but the deltas are under 1%, so the G4900T is functionally equivalent in aggregate benchmarks. The data shows no scenario where the G4900T pulls ahead by more than 0.3% or falls behind by more than 0.1%. For a builder choosing between these parts, the decision would hinge on platform features or power, not raw performance.

Power and Thermals

The Celeron G4900T has a TDP of 35 W. This is a low-power classification, putting it in the same league as many ultra-mobile or compact desktop processors. For cooling, this implies that a stock or basic air cooler is sufficient — no need for large towers or liquid cooling. The 35 W TDP means the chip generates modest heat, so even a small low-profile cooler in a mini-ITX or slim chassis will handle it without throttle risk. The socket is Intel Socket 1151, which is a mainstream desktop platform, so standard LGA1151 coolers will mount without adapters.

The process node is 14 nm, which is older but well-understood. The die size is 126 mm², and the cache layout is 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 2 MB shared L3. That 2 MB L3 is small by modern standards, but for a low-power dual-core, it is adequate. The low TDP also means that power delivery requirements are minimal; a basic motherboard with a modest VRM design will run this chip at full load without issue. In a passive or fanless build, the 35 W TDP is manageable, though it would require careful case airflow. For most users, the practical takeaway is that cooling is a non-issue — any cooler that fits LGA1151 will be overkill for this chip.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The G4900T’s benchmark scores reveal a pronounced single-thread advantage relative to its multi-thread capability. In Geekbench, the single-core score is 566, while the multi-core score is 940. That multi-core score is only 1.66 times the single-core score, which is far below the theoretical 2x you would expect from a perfect dual-core scaling. This is because the chip has only 2 cores and 2 threads — no Hyper-Threading — so the second core adds some performance but cannot double it due to shared resources and memory bandwidth constraints. In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 270 and the multi-core is 1914, a ratio of about 7.1. That ratio is misleadingly high because Cinebench’s single-core test is not directly comparable to multi-core; the multi-core test scales with more cores, but with only 2 threads, the absolute multi-core score remains low.

For real workloads, this split means the G4900T handles lightly-threaded tasks — like web browsing, office documents, or older games — with reasonable responsiveness, because single-thread performance is the primary driver there. However, any application that leverages multiple threads, such as video encoding, 3D rendering, or modern productivity suites with background tasks, will see the CPU struggle. The data shows that the multi-core score is low in absolute terms (940 in Geekbench, 803 in Cinebench R20), so multi-threaded jobs will take noticeably longer than on any quad-core or higher part. The single-thread scores are also not impressive in absolute terms — 270 in R23 is below many mobile chips — but they are adequate for basic desktop responsiveness.

Who Should Consider It

Given the benchmark data, the Celeron G4900T is suited for very specific use cases. For office productivity — word processing, spreadsheets, email, and web-based tools — the single-core score of 566 in Geekbench is sufficient for smooth operation in most cases, as these tasks are largely single-threaded. The 35 W TDP makes it a candidate for always-on systems like a home server, NAS, or a lightweight firewall, where low power draw is more important than raw speed. For such roles, the multi-core score of 940 in Geekbench is low but tolerable for light background tasks.

Gaming is not a strong suit. The integrated UHD Graphics 610 is a basic iGPU, and the CPU’s multi-core score of 1914 in Cinebench R23 suggests that modern games, which often use 4 or more threads, will be bottlenecked. Esports titles from several years ago might run at low settings, but the data does not support recommending this chip for any serious gaming. Content creation is similarly off the table: video editing, 3D modeling, or photo batch processing require multi-core performance that the G4900T lacks. The Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 803 places it far below any modern quad-core, so render times will be long.

In contrast, the nearest rivals — the i3-5005U and i3-3240 — offer nearly identical performance (within 0.1%), so the G4900T does not stand out among them. The only edge is the newer platform (Coffee Lake) and the 35 W TDP, which is lower than the i3-3240’s typical desktop power draw. If a builder already has an LGA1151 board, the G4900T is a low-cost drop-in option, but it should not be chosen for performance-driven projects.

FAQ

Q: How does the Celeron G4900T compare to the Intel Core i3-5005U?

A: The average benchmark score of the G4900T is 685, while the i3-5005U scores 686, a delta of -0.1%. They are effectively identical in performance.

Q: What is the TDP of this processor, and what cooling does it need?

A: The TDP is 35 W. This is a low-power chip, so any standard air cooler that fits the Intel Socket 1151 will be sufficient, including low-profile or stock-style coolers.

Q: Does the G4900T support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the FACT PACK lists ECC memory support as true. It supports DDR4 memory in dual-channel configuration with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s.

Q: What is the single-core performance like?

A: In Cinebench R23, the single-core score is 270, and in Geekbench it is 566. These scores are low in absolute terms but are relatively stronger than the multi-core scores, indicating acceptable light-threaded performance.

Q: Is this processor good for gaming?

A: No. The multi-core scores (940 in Geekbench, 1914 in Cinebench R23) are too low for modern games, which typically require more than 2 threads. The integrated UHD Graphics 610 is also basic.

Q: What is the release date and launch MSRP?

A: The release date is April 2, 2018, and the launch MSRP is $42. It is now end-of-life.

Platform and Compatibility

The Celeron G4900T uses the Intel Socket 1151, which is the mainstream socket for Coffee Lake desktop processors. The architecture is Coffee Lake, built on a 14 nm process. Memory support is DDR4 in dual-channel mode, with a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. ECC memory is supported, which is a notable feature for budget builds that want error-correcting RAM for stability in server-like roles. The PCIe support is Gen 3 with 16 lanes from the CPU, which is standard for a desktop part, allowing a single full-bandwidth graphics card or multiple lower-lane devices.

The chip does not have a boost clock — its base clock is 2.90 GHz, and it is not multiplier-unlocked, so overclocking is off the table. The integrated graphics are UHD Graphics 610, which is sufficient for basic display output but not for demanding visuals. The cache structure includes 64 KB L1 per core, 256 KB L2 per core, and 2 MB shared L3, which is limited but consistent with the low-end positioning.

Upgrade path is limited because the processor is end-of-life and the socket is older. On an LGA1151 board designed for Coffee Lake, a user could theoretically upgrade to a higher-end Coffee Lake CPU (like a Core i5 or i7) if the motherboard supports it, but the FACT PACK does not specify which other CPUs are compatible. The memory controller supports DDR4, so upgrading the CPU would not require a RAM change. The 16 PCIe Gen 3 lanes are adequate for a single GPU, but multi-GPU setups would be constrained. For a builder today, the G4900T is a viable option only if the motherboard and platform are already available at low cost, given its modest performance and the availability of faster alternatives in the same socket.