Athlon 64 4000+ vs Celeron 857

AMD

Athlon 64 4000+

1 Cores1 Thrd89 WWMax: 2.6 GHz2001
VS
Intel

Celeron 857

2 Cores2 Thrd17 WWMax: 1.2 GHz2011

Athlon 64 4000+ vs Celeron 857 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 4000+ vs Celeron 857 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 4000+ vs Celeron 857: 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 4000+

2001

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Celeron 857 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • ❌Lower PassMark (675 vs 705).
    • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.4 vs 5.3 PassMark/$ ($482 MSRP vs $134 MSRP).
    • ❌423.5% higher power demand at 89W vs 17W.
    • ❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron 857 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

    Celeron 857

    2011

    Why buy it

    • βœ…Better for gaming: +4.3% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
    • βœ…Costs $348 less on MSRP ($134 MSRP vs $482 MSRP).
    • βœ…Delivers 275.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 5.3 vs 1.4 PassMark/$ ($134 MSRP vs $482 MSRP).
    • βœ…Draws 17W instead of 89W, a 72W reduction.
    • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Celeron 857 better than Athlon 64 4000+?
    Yes. Celeron 857 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 4.4% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
    Which one is better for gaming?
    If gaming is the priority, Celeron 857 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.3% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 857 is the stronger fit. You are getting 4.4% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Celeron 857 is the better buy right now. Celeron 857 comes in $348 cheaper on MSRP at $134 MSRP versus $482 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 275.7% better value on MSRP (5.3 vs 1.4 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
    Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
    Celeron 857 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2001) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 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 4000+ vs Celeron 857 Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    Athlon 64 4000+

    The Athlon 64 4000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the San Diego (2001βˆ’2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 675 points. Launch price was $160.

    Intel

    Celeron 857

    The Celeron 857 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011βˆ’2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 705 points. Launch price was $134.

    ⚑

    Processing Power

    The Athlon 64 4000+ packs 1 cores / 1 threads, while the Celeron 857 offers 2 cores / 2 threads β€” the Celeron 857 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 4000+ versus 1.2 GHz on the Celeron 857 β€” a 73.7% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 4000+. The Athlon 64 4000+ uses the San Diego (2001βˆ’2005) architecture (130 nm), while the Celeron 857 uses Sandy Bridge (2011βˆ’2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 4000+ scores 675 against the Celeron 857's 705 β€” a 4.3% lead for the Celeron 857. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon 64 4000+ vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron 857.

    FeatureAthlon 64 4000+Celeron 857
    Cores / Threads
    1 / 1
    2 / 2+100%
    Boost Clock
    2.6 GHz+117%
    1.2 GHz
    Base Clock
    β€”
    1.2 GHz
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    2 MB (total)
    L2 Cache
    512K+100%
    256K (per core)
    Process
    130 nm
    32 nm-75%
    Architecture
    San Diego (2001βˆ’2005)
    Sandy Bridge (2011βˆ’2013)
    PassMark
    675
    705+4%
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    The Athlon 64 4000+ uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron 857 uses BGA1023 (PCIe 2.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon 64 4000+ versus DDR3-1333 on the Celeron 857 β€” the Celeron 857 supports 66.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 4000+) vs 16 (Celeron 857) β€” the Celeron 857 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 4000+) and HM65,HM67 (Celeron 857).

    FeatureAthlon 64 4000+Celeron 857
    Socket
    939
    BGA1023
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 1.1
    PCIe 2.0+82%
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR2-800
    DDR3-1333+67%
    Max RAM Capacity
    16 GB
    16 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    2
    ECC Support
    No
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    0
    16
    πŸ”§

    Advanced Features

    Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 4000+) / VT-x (Celeron 857). The Celeron 857 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon 64 4000+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 857 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 857 rivals Pentium 967.

    FeatureAthlon 64 4000+Celeron 857
    Integrated GPU
    No
    Yes
    IGPU Model
    β€”
    HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)
    Unlocked
    β€”
    No
    AVX-512
    β€”
    No
    Virtualization
    β€”
    VT-x
    Target Use
    β€”
    Budget
    πŸ’°

    Value Analysis

    At launch, the Athlon 64 4000+ was priced at $482, while the Celeron 857 came in at $134. On launch pricing ($482 vs $134), Celeron 857 was $348 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 4000+ delivers 1.4 pts/$ vs 5.3 pts/$ for the Celeron 857 β€” making the Celeron 857 the 115.9% better value option.

    FeatureAthlon 64 4000+Celeron 857
    MSRP
    $482
    $134-72%
    Performance per Dollar
    1.4
    5.3+279%
    Release Date
    2001
    2011

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