Athlon 64 3800+ vs Pentium D 830

CPU

GPU

Athlon 64 3800+

1 Cores1 Thrd89 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2004

Similar parts

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Pentium D 830

2 Cores2 Thrd130 WWMax: 3 GHz2005

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Athlon 64 3800+ vs Pentium D 830 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 3800+

1 / 1

648

+4.9%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium D 830

2 / 2

618

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 3800+ vs Pentium D 830 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 3800+ vs Pentium D 830: 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 3800+

2004

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +6.6% higher average FPS across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 89W instead of 130W, a 41W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
12% HIGHER MSRP
$354 MSRPvs$316 MSRP
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Pentium D 830.

Pentium D 830

2005

Why buy it

✅Costs $38 less on MSRP ($316 MSRP vs $354 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Athlon 64 3800+.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon 64 3800+ across 48 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (618 vs 648).
❌46.1% higher power demand at 130W vs 89W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon 64 3800+ better than Pentium D 830?

Yes. Athlon 64 3800+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 6.6% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data and 4.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon 64 3800+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 6.6% more average FPS across 48 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon 64 3800+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 4.9% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

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

Athlon 64 3800+ is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon 64 3800+ comes in 12.0% more expensive on MSRP at $354 MSRP versus $316 MSRP, and it still gives you a 6.6% average FPS lead across 48 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium D 830 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2005 platform. Even with 6.8% better value on paper (2.0 vs 1.8 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA775.

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

Pentium D 830 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2005 vs 2004). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 3800+ vs Pentium D 830 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon 64 3800+

The Athlon 64 3800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Junho 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the Venice (2004−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Memory support: DDR1. Passmark benchmark score: 648 points. Launch price was $160.

Pentium D 830

The Pentium D 830 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 618 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Athlon 64 3800+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Pentium D 830 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Pentium D 830 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon 64 3800+ versus 3 GHz on the Pentium D 830 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Pentium D 830. The Athlon 64 3800+ uses the Venice (2004−2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Pentium D 830 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 3800+ scores 648 against the Pentium D 830's 618 — a 4.7% lead for the Athlon 64 3800+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Pentium D 830
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	2 / 2+100%
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz	3 GHz+25%
Base Clock	—	3 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	2 MB+300%
Process	130 nm	90 nm-31%
Architecture	Venice (2004−2005)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	648+5%	618
Geekbench 6 Single	—	151
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	341

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon 64 3800+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium D 830 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 3800+ versus DDR2-667 on the Pentium D 830 — the Athlon 64 3800+ supports 19.9% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon 64 3800+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 300% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 3800+) vs 16 (Pentium D 830) — the Pentium D 830 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 3800+) and 945,955,975 (Pentium D 830).

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Pentium D 830
Socket	939	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-800+20%	DDR2-667
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+300%	4 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	16

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 3800+) / None (Pentium D 830). Primary use case: Pentium D 830 targets Legacy Desktop.

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Pentium D 830
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	—	No
AVX-512	—	No
Virtualization	—	None
Target Use	—	Legacy Desktop

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 3800+ was priced at $354, while the Pentium D 830 came in at $316. On launch pricing ($354 vs $316), Pentium D 830 was $38 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 3800+ delivers 1.8 pts/$ vs 2.0 pts/$ for the Pentium D 830 — making the Pentium D 830 the 6.6% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 3800+	Pentium D 830
MSRP	$354	$316-11%
Performance per Dollar	1.8	2.0+11%
Release Date	2004	2005

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