What Are the Differences Between Intel Celeron, Intel Core and Intel Atom Processors?
Intel Celeron, Intel Core and Intel Atom are processor families positioned in different periods and for different use targets. Although these names give a general idea of a processor's characteristics, on their own they are not an indicator of performance or industrial suitability.
- Intel Celeron: A processor family used in some entry-level and low-power systems. Suitable models can be found for simple control applications, basic HMI and light data-processing tasks.
- Intel Core: A broad product family. It offers different options from entry level to high-performance models. Suitable models can be found for more demanding software, multitasking, data processing and image processing applications.
- Intel Atom: Includes processors developed especially for low power consumption and embedded systems. It can be used in compact, energy-efficiency-oriented industrial computers.
When choosing between these families, comparing names alone is not enough. Even processors within the same family can differ significantly in architecture, generation, core count, graphics unit and power consumption.
Which processor should be chosen?
In a simple automation application, a low-power processor may be sufficient. In applications where several programs run at the same time, heavy data is processed or image analysis is performed, a higher-performance model may be needed.
The most accurate choice is made by comparing the benchmark results of specific processor models with the software requirements.