CPU
GPU
Athlon 64 2800+
Pentium 4 2.80
Performance Spectrum - CPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon 64 2800+ is positioned at rank 1098 and the Pentium 4 2.80 is on rank 1114, so the Athlon 64 2800+ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 2800+
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 4 2.80
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 2800+ | Pentium 4 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NewCastle (2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 2800+ | Pentium 4 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+72%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon 64 2800+ and Pentium 4 2.80
Athlon 64 2800+
The Athlon 64 2800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Abril 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the NewCastle (2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 420 points. Launch price was $100.
Pentium 4 2.80
The Pentium 4 2.80 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.79 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 110 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 408 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 2800+ and Pentium 4 2.80 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 2800+ versus 2.79 GHz on the Pentium 4 2.80 — a 43.1% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 2.80. The Athlon 64 2800+ uses the NewCastle (2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Pentium 4 2.80 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 2800+ scores 420 against the Pentium 4 2.80's 408 — a 2.9% lead for the Athlon 64 2800+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 64 2800+ | Pentium 4 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.8 GHz | 2.79 GHz+55% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | NewCastle (2004) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 420+3% | 408 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 2800+ uses the 754 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 4 2.80 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon 64 2800+ | Pentium 4 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 754 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 2800+ launched at $178 MSRP, while the Pentium 4 2.80 debuted at $327. At current prices ($15 vs $25), the Athlon 64 2800+ is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 2800+ delivers 28.0 pts/$ vs 16.3 pts/$ for the Pentium 4 2.80 — making the Athlon 64 2800+ the 52.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 2800+ | Pentium 4 2.80 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $178-46% | $327 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-40% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 28.0+72% | 16.3 |
| Release Date | 2004 | 2002 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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