Athlon XP 2100+ vs Pentium III 1400S

AMD

Athlon XP 2100+

1 Cores1 Thrd72 WWMax: 1.73 GHz2001
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium III 1400S

1 Cores1 Thrd32 WWMax: 1.4 GHz2002
Similar parts
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Athlon XP 2100+ vs Pentium III 1400S 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 2100+ vs Pentium III 1400S 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 XP 2100+ vs Pentium III 1400S: 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 2100+

2001

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +16.7% higher average FPS across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 0.6 vs 0.9 PassMark/$ ($420 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
  • 125% higher power demand at 72W vs 32W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Pentium III 1400S.

Pentium III 1400S

2002

Why buy it

  • Costs $170 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $420 MSRP).
  • Delivers 44.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 0.9 vs 0.6 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $420 MSRP).
  • Draws 32W instead of 72W, a 40W reduction.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Athlon XP 2100+.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon XP 2100+ across 25 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (228 vs 265).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon XP 2100+ better than Pentium III 1400S?
Yes. Athlon XP 2100+ is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 16.7% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data and 16.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon XP 2100+ is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 16.7% more average FPS across 25 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon XP 2100+ is the stronger fit. You are getting 16.2% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon XP 2100+ is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon XP 2100+ comes in 68.0% more expensive on MSRP at $420 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it still gives you a 16.7% average FPS lead across 25 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium III 1400S only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2002 platform. Even with 44.5% better value on paper (0.9 vs 0.6 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on PGA370.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Pentium III 1400S makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2002 vs 2001). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon XP 2100+ vs Pentium III 1400S Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon XP 2100+

The Athlon XP 2100+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Thoroughbred (2001−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.73 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 180 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 265 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Pentium III 1400S

The Pentium III 1400S is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 32 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 228 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon XP 2100+ and Pentium III 1400S share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.73 GHz on the Athlon XP 2100+ versus 1.4 GHz on the Pentium III 1400S — a 21.1% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 2100+. The Athlon XP 2100+ uses the Thoroughbred (2001−2002) architecture (180 nm), while the Pentium III 1400S uses Tualatin (2000−2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 2100+ scores 265 against the Pentium III 1400S's 228 — a 15% lead for the Athlon XP 2100+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon XP 2100+Pentium III 1400S
Cores / Threads
1 / 1
1 / 1
Boost Clock
1.73 GHz+24%
1.4 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
256 kB
512 kB+100%
Process
180 nm
130 nm-28%
Architecture
Thoroughbred (2001−2002)
Tualatin (2000−2002)
PassMark
265+16%
228
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon XP 2100+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium III 1400S uses PGA370 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-266 on the Athlon XP 2100+ versus PC133 on the Pentium III 1400S — the Pentium III 1400S supports -150% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4 GB of RAM. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 2100+) and Intel 815,VIA Apollo Pro 133T (Pentium III 1400S).

FeatureAthlon XP 2100+Pentium III 1400S
Socket
A
PGA370
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed
DDR-266
PC133
Max RAM Capacity
4 GB
4 GB
RAM Channels
1
1
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
0
0
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon XP 2100+) / No (Pentium III 1400S).

FeatureAthlon XP 2100+Pentium III 1400S
Integrated GPU
No
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
No
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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon XP 2100+ was priced at $420, while the Pentium III 1400S came in at $250. On launch pricing ($420 vs $250), Pentium III 1400S was $170 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2100+ delivers 0.6 pts/$ vs 0.9 pts/$ for the Pentium III 1400S — making the Pentium III 1400S the 36.4% better value option.

FeatureAthlon XP 2100+Pentium III 1400S
MSRP
$420
$250-40%
Performance per Dollar
0.6
0.9+50%
Release Date
2001
2002

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