Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 vs Pentium D 940

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 vs Pentium D 940 Performance Spectrum

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42

2 / 2

775

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium D 940

2 / 2

875

+12.9%

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 X2 TK-42 vs Pentium D 940 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 X2 TK-42 vs Pentium D 940: 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 X2 TK-42

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $72 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $132 MSRP).
✅Delivers 94.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 12.9 vs 6.6 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $132 MSRP).
✅Draws 1W instead of 130W, a 129W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium D 940 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (775 vs 875).

Pentium D 940

2006

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +15.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 6.6 vs 12.9 PassMark/$ ($132 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌12900% higher power demand at 130W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium D 940 better than Athlon 64 X2 TK-42?

Yes. Pentium D 940 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 15.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 12.9% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium D 940 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 15.6% 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, Pentium D 940 is the stronger fit. You are getting 12.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium D 940 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium D 940 comes in 120.0% more expensive on MSRP at $132 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 15.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 94.9% better value on paper (12.9 vs 6.6 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on S1.

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

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2006). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 vs Pentium D 940 Technical Specifications

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

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.

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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	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 was priced at $60, while the Pentium D 940 came in at $132. On launch pricing ($60 vs $132), Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 was $72 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 delivers 12.9 pts/$ vs 6.6 pts/$ for the Pentium D 940 — making the Athlon 64 X2 TK-42 the 64.3% better value option.

Feature	Athlon 64 X2 TK-42	Pentium D 940
MSRP	$60-55%	$132
Performance per Dollar	12.9+95%	6.6
Release Date	2009	2006

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