Going old school with the Celeron
Updated: December 12, 2022 3:26 pm
Maybe you have an Intel Celeron system lying around and you might be wondering if it runs games. So, can Intel Celeron run games?
Now read: Can Ryzen 5 run Warzone 2?
To find out, let’s take a look at the latest Celeron processor and see if the Intel Celeron can run games at playable settings. Let’s take the example of the Celeron N5105. Now, there are dozens of Celeron processors out there, but we chose this one because it’s a recent processor and it gives us a good idea of what to expect.
Intel Celeron N5105 – Specifications
- CPU Cores/Threads: 4
- Threads: 4
- Hyperthreading/SMT: Yes
- Overclocking: No
- Main Frequency: 2.00GHz
- Boost Clock: 2.90GHz
It’s clear from the specs that the Celeron isn’t designed for gaming. With 4 cores and a CPU clock of 2GHz, the Celeron lacks overclocking potential, and the boost clock isn’t all that impressive either.
Celeron processors were developed explicitly for netbooks and are typically used for browsing and basic computing tasks. On the other hand, games require better resources, but you still have some choices.
editorpick
Editors Choice
Save $800
Samsung S95B 65″ QD-OLED TV
Samsung introduces the latest QD-OLED TV technology in the S95B, delivering outstanding color accuracy, brightness and contrast. In addition to these features, the S95B also features
Read more
*Prices are subject to change. WePC is supported by the player. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Find out more
Can Celeron run new multiplayer games?
Let’s talk about some popular video games, including CS:GO, Valor, Fortnite, and Apex Legends. Celeron cannot run CSGO. Can it run Fortnite? Unlikely. Likewise, Apex Legends and Valorant. Most modern multiplayer games consume a lot of CPU, so a Celeron will struggle to run them.
You can probably play old classic multiplayer games like Age of Empire series, Quake, Old Halo games, etc.
What about single player games?
So, can he play story games? It depends; unfortunately, Celeron can’t run most triple-A titles released in recent years. To run them at even 30 to 40 frames per second, you’d need at least a 4th generation i5 processor. Of course, this really depends on the game and what kind of settings you’re willing to put up with.
What games can Celeron run?
So, you are probably wondering what Celeron can do. Well, you can probably play old titles on it. GTA Vice City, CS 1.6 and many others are examples. Celeron is an excellent choice for emulation, allowing you to easily enjoy old classics from Nintendo, PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2. Games like Mario, the old Doom series, and fighting classics like Street Fighter and KOF will run smoothly on the Celeron.
Final word
To sum up, Celeron processors are not designed for gaming but rather for simple browsing the internet and performing basic tasks. When it comes to gaming, Celerons lack the specs to run games.
However, you can pair them with a low-end GPU like the GT 730 or GT 1030 to enjoy some old classics. Overall, upgrading to at least a somewhat recent i3 or i5 processor is recommended. Even something like an i3 10100F will give you better gaming performance than a Celeron.