Athlon XP 1500+ vs C-30

AMD

Athlon XP 1500+

1 Cores1 Thrd60 WWMax: 1.33 GHz2001
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

C-30

1 Cores1 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.2 GHz2011
Similar parts
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Athlon XP 1500+ vs C-30 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 XP 1500+ vs C-30: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Athlon XP 1500+

2001

Why buy it

  • Draws 60W instead of 512W, a 452W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (188 vs 201).
  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.4 vs 4.0 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $50 MSRP).
  • No integrated graphics, while C-30 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

C-30

2011

Why buy it

  • +6.9% higher PassMark.
  • Costs $80 less on MSRP ($50 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
  • Delivers 178.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 4.0 vs 1.4 PassMark/$ ($50 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 6250, while Athlon XP 1500+ needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • 753.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 60W.

Quick Answers

So, is C-30 better than Athlon XP 1500+?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon XP 1500+ is ahead with 10.8% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, C-30 pulls ahead with 6.9% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, C-30 is the stronger fit. You are getting 6.9% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
C-30 is the better buy right now. C-30 comes in $80 cheaper on MSRP at $50 MSRP versus $130 MSRP, and it still gives you 6.9% better PassMark. The compromise is that Athlon XP 1500+ is still the better pure gaming CPU with 10.8% higher max boost clock. It is also 178.0% better value on MSRP (4.0 vs 1.4 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
C-30 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 1 cores / 1 threads instead of 1/1. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon XP 1500+ vs C-30 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon XP 1500+

The Athlon XP 1500+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Palomino (2001) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 180 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 188 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

C-30

The C-30 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Ontario (2011−2012) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 512 kB. Memory support: DDR3 Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 201 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon XP 1500+ and C-30 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.33 GHz on the Athlon XP 1500+ versus 1.2 GHz on the C-30 — a 10.3% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 1500+. The Athlon XP 1500+ uses the Palomino (2001) architecture (180 nm), while the C-30 uses Ontario (2011−2012) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 1500+ scores 188 against the C-30's 201 — a 6.7% lead for the C-30. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon XP 1500+C-30
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
1 / 1
Boost Clock
1.33 GHz+11%
1.2 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
256 kB
512 kB+100%
Process
180 nm
40 nm-78%
Architecture
Palomino (2001)
Ontario (2011−2012)
PassMark
188
201+7%
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon XP 1500+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the C-30 uses FT1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-266 on the Athlon XP 1500+ versus DDR3-1066 on the C-30 — the C-30 supports -500.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The C-30 supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 1500+) and AMD BGA413 (C-30).

FeatureAthlon XP 1500+C-30
Socket
A
FT1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 2.0+82%
Max RAM Speed
DDR-266
DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity
2 GB
4 GB+100%
RAM Channels
1
1
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
4
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: None (Athlon XP 1500+) / not specified (C-30). The C-30 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6250), while the Athlon XP 1500+ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon XP 1500+ targets Desktop.

FeatureAthlon XP 1500+C-30
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 6250
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
None
Target Use
Desktop
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon XP 1500+ was priced at $130, while the C-30 came in at $50. On launch pricing ($130 vs $50), C-30 was $80 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 1500+ delivers 1.4 pts/$ vs 4.0 pts/$ for the C-30 — making the C-30 the 94.2% better value option.

FeatureAthlon XP 1500+C-30
MSRP
$130
$50-62%
Performance per Dollar
1.4
4.0+186%
Release Date
2001
2011

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