CPU
GPU
Athlon 64 3000+
Xeon 2.66
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 3000+ is positioned at rank 1095 and the Xeon 2.66 is on rank 1028, so the Xeon 2.66 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 3000+
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 2.66
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 3000+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Prestonia (2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 3000+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 3000+ and Xeon 2.66
Athlon 64 3000+
The Athlon 64 3000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 450 points. Launch price was $65.
Xeon 2.66
The Xeon 2.66 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Prestonia (2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 445 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 3000+ and Xeon 2.66 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 3000+ versus 2.66 GHz on the Xeon 2.66 — a 28.3% clock advantage for the Xeon 2.66. The Athlon 64 3000+ uses the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Xeon 2.66 uses Prestonia (2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3000+ scores 450 against the Xeon 2.66's 445 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon 64 3000+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3000+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.66 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512K | 512 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Clawhammer (2001−2005) | Prestonia (2002) |
| PassMark | 450+1% | 445 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 3000+ uses the 754 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon 2.66 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3000+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 754 | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 3000+ launched at $149 MSRP, while the Xeon 2.66 debuted at $337. At current prices ($10 vs $10), the Xeon 2.66 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 3000+ delivers 45.0 pts/$ vs 44.5 pts/$ for the Xeon 2.66 — making the Athlon 64 3000+ the 1.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3000+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $149-56% | $337 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 45.0+1% | 44.5 |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2002 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon 64 3000+ and Xeon 2.66
