CPU
GPU
Athlon XP 2500+
Athlon XP 2600+
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 XP 2500+ is positioned at rank 1105 and the Athlon XP 2600+ is on rank 1085, so the Athlon XP 2600+ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon XP 2500+
Performance Per Dollar Athlon XP 2600+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon XP 2500+ | Athlon XP 2600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon XP 2500+ | Athlon XP 2600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+59%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 XP 2500+ and Athlon XP 2600+
Athlon XP 2500+
The Athlon XP 2500+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Barton (2001−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 68 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 320 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon XP 2600+
The Athlon XP 2600+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the Barton (2001−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.92 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 68 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 340 points. Launch price was $23.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon XP 2500+ and Athlon XP 2600+ share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Athlon XP 2500+ versus 1.92 GHz on the Athlon XP 2600+ — a 4.8% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 2600+. Both are built on the Barton (2001−2004) architecture using a 130 nm process. In PassMark, the Athlon XP 2500+ scores 320 against the Athlon XP 2600+'s 340 — a 6.1% lead for the Athlon XP 2600+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Athlon XP 2600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 1.92 GHz+5% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512K |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Barton (2001−2004) | Barton (2001−2004) |
| PassMark | 320 | 340+6% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the A socket with PCIe 1.1. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon XP 2500+ versus DDR-333 on the Athlon XP 2600+ — the Athlon XP 2600+ supports -18.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon XP 2600+ supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: Socket A (Athlon XP 2500+) and AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 2600+).
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Athlon XP 2600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | A | A |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | DDR-333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: false (Athlon XP 2500+) / not specified (Athlon XP 2600+).
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Athlon XP 2600+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | false | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon XP 2500+ launched at $172 MSRP, while the Athlon XP 2600+ debuted at $98. At current prices ($15 vs $10), the Athlon XP 2600+ is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2500+ delivers 21.3 pts/$ vs 34.0 pts/$ for the Athlon XP 2600+ — making the Athlon XP 2600+ the 45.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Athlon XP 2600+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $172 | $98-43% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $10-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.3 | 34.0+60% |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2001 |
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