Athlon 64 2600+ vs Atom N470

Athlon 64 2600+ vs Atom N470 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 2600+

1 / 1

392

+1.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Atom N470

1 / 2

385

0.0%

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Athlon 64 2600+ vs Atom N470 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Athlon 64 2600+ vs Atom N470: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon 64 2600+

2008

Why buy it

✅+1.8% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 15W instead of 512W, a 497W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while Atom N470 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌No integrated graphics, while Atom N470 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Atom N470

2010

Why buy it

✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel GMA 3150, while Athlon 64 2600+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (385 vs 392).
❌3313.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 2600+ better than Atom N470?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Atom N470 is ahead with 14.4% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 2600+ pulls ahead with 1.8% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 2600+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.8% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Athlon 64 2600+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 2600+ comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 1.8% better PassMark. The compromise is that Atom N470 is still the better pure gaming CPU with 14.4% higher max boost clock. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (3.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Atom N470 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2008). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 2600+ vs Atom N470 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Athlon 64 2600+

The Athlon 64 2600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lima (2008−2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 392 points. Launch price was $149.

Atom N470

The Atom N470 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Pineview (2009−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 6.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 385 points. Launch price was $75.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 64 2600+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, matching the Atom N470's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 2600+ versus 1.83 GHz on the Atom N470 — a 13.4% clock advantage for the Atom N470. The Athlon 64 2600+ uses the Lima (2008−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Atom N470 uses Pineview (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 2600+ scores 392 against the Atom N470's 385 — a 1.8% lead for the Athlon 64 2600+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon 64 2600+	Atom N470
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	1 / 2
Boost Clock	1.6 GHz	1.83 GHz+14%
Base Clock	—	1.83 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	512K (per core)
Process	65 nm	45 nm-31%
Architecture	Lima (2008−2009)	Pineview (2009−2011)
PassMark	392+2%	385

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 2600+ uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom N470 uses FCBGA559 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-667 memory speed. The Athlon 64 2600+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 700% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon 64 2600+) vs 1 (Atom N470). Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 2600+) and Intel NM10 (Atom N470).

Feature	Athlon 64 2600+	Atom N470
Socket	AM2	FCBGA559
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	DDR2-667
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+700%	2 GB
RAM Channels	2+100%	1
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0