CPU
GPU
Athlon XP 2500+
Celeron 2.20
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 Celeron 2.20 is on rank 1081, so the Celeron 2.20 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 Celeron 2.20
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon XP 2500+ | Celeron 2.20 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Northwood (2002−2004) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon XP 2500+ | Celeron 2.20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+5%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Celeron 2.20
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.
Celeron 2.20
The Celeron 2.20 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Northwood (2002−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 128 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 305 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon XP 2500+ and Celeron 2.20 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Athlon XP 2500+ versus 2.2 GHz on the Celeron 2.20 — a 18.4% clock advantage for the Celeron 2.20. The Athlon XP 2500+ uses the Barton (2001−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Celeron 2.20 uses Northwood (2002−2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 2500+ scores 320 against the Celeron 2.20's 305 — a 4.8% lead for the Athlon XP 2500+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Celeron 2.20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 2.2 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+300% | 128 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Barton (2001−2004) | Northwood (2002−2004) |
| PassMark | 320+5% | 305 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon XP 2500+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron 2.20 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon XP 2500+ versus DDR1-400 on the Celeron 2.20 — the Celeron 2.20 supports -201% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 2.20 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 845,850,865 (Celeron 2.20).
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Celeron 2.20 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | A | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | DDR1-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: false (Athlon XP 2500+) vs No (Celeron 2.20). Primary use case: Celeron 2.20 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.20 rivals Pentium 4 2.40.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Celeron 2.20 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | false | No |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon XP 2500+ launched at $172 MSRP, while the Celeron 2.20 debuted at $79. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Celeron 2.20 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2500+ delivers 21.3 pts/$ vs 20.3 pts/$ for the Celeron 2.20 — making the Athlon XP 2500+ the 4.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Celeron 2.20 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $172 | $79-54% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.3+5% | 20.3 |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2002 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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