Athlon 64 3300+ vs Opteron 146

AMD

Athlon 64 3300+

1 Cores1 Thrd89 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2004
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Opteron 146

1 Cores1 Thrd89 WWMax: 2 GHz2003
Similar parts
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Athlon 64 3300+ vs Opteron 146 Performance Spectrum

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 3300+ vs Opteron 146 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 3300+ vs Opteron 146: 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 3300+

2004

Why buy it

  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike Opteron 146.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $200 MSRP, while Opteron 146 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Opteron 146

2003

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • Lower PassMark (505 vs 522).
    • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon 64 3300+.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Athlon 64 3300+ better than Opteron 146?
    Not really, because they are built for different jobs. Opteron 146 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Athlon 64 3300+ is the more practical desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and everyday use.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 3300+ has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 20% higher max boost clock.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 3300+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 3.4% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Athlon 64 3300+ is the better buy right now. Athlon 64 3300+ comes in at an unclear MSRP at $200 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 3.4% higher PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (2.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Athlon 64 3300+ makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2004 vs 2003) and more multi-core headroom with 1 cores / 1 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

    Athlon 64 3300+ vs Opteron 146 Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    Athlon 64 3300+

    The Athlon 64 3300+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the NewCastle (2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 522 points. Launch price was $149.

    AMD

    Opteron 146

    The Opteron 146 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Setembro 2003 (22 years ago). It is based on the SledgeHammer (2003−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 940. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 505 points. Launch price was $60.

    Processing Power

    Both the Athlon 64 3300+ and Opteron 146 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3300+ versus 2 GHz on the Opteron 146 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 3300+. The Athlon 64 3300+ uses the NewCastle (2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Opteron 146 uses SledgeHammer (2003−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3300+ scores 522 against the Opteron 146's 505 — a 3.3% lead for the Athlon 64 3300+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

    FeatureAthlon 64 3300+Opteron 146
    Cores / Threads
    1 / 1
    1 / 1
    Boost Clock
    2.4 GHz+20%
    2 GHz
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    0 kB
    L2 Cache
    256 kB
    1 MB+300%
    Process
    130 nm
    130 nm
    Architecture
    NewCastle (2004)
    SledgeHammer (2003−2005)
    PassMark
    522+3%
    505
    Geekbench 6 Single
    150
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    150
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon 64 3300+ uses the 754 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Opteron 146 uses 940 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

    FeatureAthlon 64 3300+Opteron 146
    Socket
    754
    940
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 1.1
    PCIe 2.0+82%
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR1-400
    Max RAM Capacity
    3 GB
    RAM Channels
    1
    ECC Support
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    0
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: None (Athlon 64 3300+) / not specified (Opteron 146). Primary use case: Athlon 64 3300+ targets Retro Desktop.

    FeatureAthlon 64 3300+Opteron 146
    Integrated GPU
    No
    IGPU Model
    None
    Unlocked
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    Virtualization
    None
    Target Use
    Retro Desktop