Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 vs Celeron B820
Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
Celeron B820
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 X2 TK-42 is positioned at rank 1019 and the Celeron B820 is on rank 1109, so the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 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 X2 TK-42
Performance Per Dollar Celeron B820
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Celeron B820 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Tyler (2007−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Celeron B820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+52%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 X2 TK-42 and Celeron B820
Athlon 64 X2 TK-42
The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Tyler (2007−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 775 points. Launch price was $149.
Celeron B820
The Celeron B820 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 July 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 765 points. Launch price was $86.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 and Celeron B820 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 versus 1.7 GHz on the Celeron B820 — a 6.1% clock advantage for the Celeron B820. The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 uses the Tyler (2007−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Celeron B820 uses Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 scores 775 against the Celeron B820's 765 — a 1.3% lead for the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Celeron B820 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 1.7 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | — | 1.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Tyler (2007−2009) | Sandy Bridge (2011−2013) |
| PassMark | 775+1% | 765 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron B820 uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 versus DDR3-1333 on the Celeron B820 — the Celeron B820 supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron B820 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon 64 X2 TK-42) vs 16 (Celeron B820) — the Celeron B820 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD S1 (Athlon 64 X2 TK-42) and HM65,HM67,QM67,QM77 (Celeron B820).
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Celeron B820 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | DDR3-1333+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon 64 X2 TK-42) / VT-x (Celeron B820). The Celeron B820 includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge)), while the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron B820 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron B820 rivals Pentium 967.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Celeron B820 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 launched at $60 MSRP, while the Celeron B820 debuted at $86. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 delivers 77.5 pts/$ vs 51.0 pts/$ for the Celeron B820 — making the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 the 41.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Celeron B820 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-30% | $86 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 77.5+52% | 51.0 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2012 |
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