
Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 vs Pentium D 940

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42

Pentium D 940
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 Pentium D 940 is on rank 1055, 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 Pentium D 940
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Pentium D 940 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Tyler (2007−2009) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Pentium D 940 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) | ❌ 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 Pentium D 940

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.

Pentium D 940
The Pentium D 940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 January 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 875 points. Launch price was $423.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 and Pentium D 940 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 versus 3.2 GHz on the Pentium D 940 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the Pentium D 940. The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 uses the Tyler (2007−2009) architecture (65 nm), while the Pentium D 940 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 scores 775 against the Pentium D 940's 875 — a 12.1% lead for the Pentium D 940.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Pentium D 940 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.2 GHz+100% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB (total)+100% |
| Process | 65 nm | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Tyler (2007−2009) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 775 | 875+13% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium D 940 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Pentium D 940 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 launched at $60 MSRP, while the Pentium D 940 debuted at $132. 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 58.3 pts/$ for the Pentium D 940 — making the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 the 28.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 | Pentium D 940 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-55% | $132 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 77.5+33% | 58.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2006 |
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