Better then 0% CPU over the past year
Intel Celeron N4020
Intel Celeron N4020 in Laptops: How Slow Is It Today?
The Intel Celeron N4020 was used in inexpensive laptops, Chromebooks, and educational devices. It is a dual-core processor with a 6W thermal design power, built around low energy consumption and simple cooling. Many laptops could run it without a fan, but the low heat output came at the cost of very limited performance.
The N4020 is still capable of handling documents, video playback, and a few lightweight browser tabs. However, both cores quickly become saturated when several applications are running at once. Laptops combining the processor with Windows, 4GB of RAM, and eMMC storage are particularly slow.
Celeron N4020 Performance in Different Laptops
| Laptop | Memory | Operating System | Geekbench 6 Single-Core | Geekbench 6 Multi-Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS VivoBook E410MAB | 4GB DDR4 | Windows 11 | 382 | 593 |
| HP 250 G8 | 4GB DDR4 | Windows 10 | 378 | 531 |
| Lenovo V15-IGL 82C3 | 4GB DDR4 | Windows 10 | 342 | 589 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14IGL05 | 4GB DDR4 | Windows 11 | 322 | 614 |
In Geekbench 6, devices powered by the Celeron N4020 score approximately 320-380 points in the single-core test and 530-610 points in the multi-core test. The spread reaches around 20%, but even the best result remains within the range of the slowest laptop processors.
Power settings, operating-system versions, and background services can affect benchmark results. Cooling is rarely the main limitation because the 6W N4020 produces little heat. Memory capacity and storage type have a much greater effect on how responsive the laptop feels.
How the N4020 Handles Everyday Tasks
The processor has two cores with a base clock of 1.1GHz and a maximum frequency of up to 2.8GHz. The higher clock helps during short single-threaded workloads, such as opening an application or loading a web page. Once several applications are running, however, almost no performance headroom remains.
A laptop with the N4020 and an SSD can still handle:
- documents and small spreadsheets;
- video playback;
- messaging applications;
- remote desktop access;
- lightweight educational or point-of-sale software.
Several demanding browser tabs, a video call, or a Windows update can quickly occupy both cores. Applications open with noticeable pauses, the interface responds slowly, and switching between windows may take several seconds.
Background Windows tasks are particularly noticeable on this processor. Antivirus scans and system updates can slow down even a browser or text editor.
Why 4GB of RAM and eMMC Make It Even Slower
Many Celeron N4020 laptops were equipped with only 4GB of RAM. That is not enough for smooth operation with a modern version of Windows. When memory runs low, the system relies more heavily on storage, which becomes especially noticeable with slow eMMC drives.
An SSD partially reduces this problem because it handles paging operations much faster. It does not, however, fix the limited performance of the processor itself. A configuration with 8GB of RAM and an SSD opens applications faster and freezes less often when switching between windows, but demanding workloads still overwhelm the two CPU cores.
Before buying, check whether the laptop offers:
- an SSD instead of eMMC storage;
- 8GB of RAM;
- replaceable storage or upgradeable memory.
Compact laptops often use soldered memory and eMMC storage. A device sold with 4GB of RAM and a slow built-in drive may offer no practical upgrade path.
Intel UHD Graphics 600 Performance
The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600 has 12 execution units and reaches a maximum clock of 650MHz. It is sufficient for the operating-system interface, video playback, and simple 2D applications.
Some older games can run at 720p with the lowest settings, but frame rates often remain below a comfortable level. Performance is limited by both the integrated graphics and the slow CPU cores.
Modern games, video editing, and 3D applications are beyond the practical capabilities of this platform. They either run too slowly or offer no usable experience on an N4020 laptop.
Which Devices Use the Celeron N4020?
The processor appeared in entry-level models such as the ASUS VivoBook E410MA, HP 250 G8, Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14IGL05, Lenovo V15-IGL, Acer Aspire 1, and Lenovo 100e Chromebook.
A Chromebook running a lightweight operating system will usually respond faster than a Windows laptop with 4GB of RAM and eMMC storage. Heavy web applications will still expose the low performance of the N4020 in both devices.
The complete configuration therefore matters as much as the processor name. Models with 4GB of RAM and eMMC storage are worth considering only for one fixed task and at a very low price.
Is an Intel Celeron N4020 Laptop Still Worth Buying?
The Celeron N4020 is now too slow for a primary computer. It lacks the performance required for active multitasking, photo editing, modern games, and demanding productivity software. Even ordinary Windows background processes can consume a large share of its available resources.
An N4020 device can still be used for documents, video playback, remote access, or lightweight specialized software. It only makes sense at a very low price, with an SSD, and for a clearly defined task.
For an everyday laptop, look for a newer quad-core processor, at least 8GB of RAM, and an SSD. Such a configuration provides much faster system response and can run several applications simultaneously without constant pauses.
Basic
Label Name
Intel
Platform
Laptop
Launch Date
November 2019
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
N4020
Code Name
Gemini Lake Refresh
CPU Specifications
Performance-cores
2
Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
2
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
2
Performance-core Base Frequency
1.1 GHz
L1 Cache
32K per core
L2 Cache
4MB shared
CPU Socket
?
The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.
BGA-1090
Unlocked Multiplier
No
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
14 nm
TDP
5 W
Max. Operating Temperature
?
Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.
105 °C
PCIe Version
?
PCI Express is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard used for connecting high-speed components, replacing older standards such as AGP, PCI, and PCI-X. It has gone through multiple revisions and improvements since its initial release. PCIe 1.0 was first introduced in 2002, and in order to meet the growing demand for higher bandwidth, subsequent versions have been released over time.
2.0
Instruction Set
?
The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.
x86-64
Extended Instruction Set
SSE4.2
Memory Specifications
Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
DDR4-2400
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
8GB
Memory Channels
?
The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.
2
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
38.4 GB/s
ECC Memory Support
No
GPU Specifications
Integrated Graphics Model
?
An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.
True
GPU Max Dynamic Frequency
650 MHz
Graphics Base Frequency
?
Graphics Base frequency refers to the rated/guaranteed graphics render clock frequency in MHz.
200 MHz
Execution Units
?
The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.
12
Max Resolution
3840x2160 - 30 Hz
Graphics Performance
0.14 TFLOPS
Interfaces and Ports
PCIe Lanes
6
Passmark CPU
Single Core
1149
Multi Core
1549
Performance
Integer Math
Multi Core
5.7
GOps/Sec
Floating Point Math
Multi Core
3.1
GOps/Sec
Find Prime Numbers
Multi Core
5
M Primes/Sec
Random String Sorting
Multi Core
2.6
M Strings/Sec
Data Encryption
Multi Core
0.9
GB/Sec
Data Compression
Multi Core
21.2
MB/Sec
Physics
Multi Core
121
Frames/Sec
Extended Instructions
Multi Core
0.6
B Matrices/Sec
Single Thread
Multi Core
1.1
GOps/Sec
Show more
Cinebench R23
Single Core
468
Multi Core
768
Geekbench 6
Single Core
369
Multi Core
536
Geekbench 5
Single Core
449
Multi Core
678
Blender
5
Compared to Other CPU
0%
0%
10%
Better then 0% CPU over the past 3 years
Better then 10% CPU
SiliconCat Rating
752
Ranks 752 among Laptop/Mobile CPU on our website
2355
Ranks 2355 among all CPU on our website
Cinebench R23 Single Core
Cinebench R23 Multi Core
Geekbench 6 Single Core
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
Geekbench 5 Single Core
Geekbench 5 Multi Core
Passmark CPU Single Core
Passmark CPU Multi Core
Blender
