Athlon 64 3600+ vs Atom D2500
Athlon 64 3600+
Atom D2500
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 3600+ is positioned at rank 1078 and the Atom D2500 is on rank 79, so the Atom D2500 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 3600+
Performance Per Dollar Atom D2500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 3600+ | Atom D2500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cedarview (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 3600+ | Atom D2500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+175%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($42) |
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 3600+ and Atom D2500
Athlon 64 3600+
The Athlon 64 3600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 595 points. Launch price was $149.
Atom D2500
The Atom D2500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 November 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Cedarview (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 1.87 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 605 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 3600+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Atom D2500 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Atom D2500 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3600+ versus 1.87 GHz on the Atom D2500 — a 24.8% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 3600+. The Athlon 64 3600+ uses the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Atom D2500 uses Cedarview (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3600+ scores 595 against the Atom D2500's 605 — a 1.7% lead for the Atom D2500.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3600+ | Atom D2500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 2 / 2+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz+28% | 1.87 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 130 nm | 32 nm-75% |
| Architecture | Clawhammer (2001−2005) | Cedarview (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 595 | 605+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 3600+ uses the 754 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom D2500 uses FCBGA559 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 3600+ versus DDR3-1066 on the Atom D2500 — the Atom D2500 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 64 3600+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon 64 3600+) vs 1 (Atom D2500). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3600+) vs 4 (Atom D2500) — the Atom D2500 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 3600+) and Intel FCBGA559 (Atom D2500).
| Feature | Athlon 64 3600+ | Atom D2500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 754 | FCBGA559 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+300% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 4 |
Advanced Features
The Atom D2500 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 3600), while the Athlon 64 3600+ requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3600+ | Atom D2500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel GMA 3600 |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 3600+ launched at $149 MSRP, while the Atom D2500 debuted at $42.
| Feature | Athlon 64 3600+ | Atom D2500 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $149 | $42-72% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | — |
| Release Date | 2004 | 2011 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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