CPU
GPU
Athlon XP 2500+
Pentium 4 2.26
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 Pentium 4 2.26 is on rank 1117, so the Athlon XP 2500+ 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 Pentium 4 2.26
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon XP 2500+ | Pentium 4 2.26 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon XP 2500+ | Pentium 4 2.26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+45%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 Pentium 4 2.26
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.
Pentium 4 2.26
The Pentium 4 2.26 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.26 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 110 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 295 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon XP 2500+ and Pentium 4 2.26 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Athlon XP 2500+ versus 2.26 GHz on the Pentium 4 2.26 — a 21% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 2.26. The Athlon XP 2500+ uses the Barton (2001−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Pentium 4 2.26 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 2500+ scores 320 against the Pentium 4 2.26's 295 — a 8.1% lead for the Athlon XP 2500+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Pentium 4 2.26 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 2.26 GHz+23% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Barton (2001−2004) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 320+8% | 295 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon XP 2500+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 4 2.26 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Pentium 4 2.26 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | A | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: false (Athlon XP 2500+) / not specified (Pentium 4 2.26).
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Pentium 4 2.26 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | false | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon XP 2500+ launched at $172 MSRP, while the Pentium 4 2.26 debuted at $241. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Athlon XP 2500+ is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2500+ delivers 21.3 pts/$ vs 14.8 pts/$ for the Pentium 4 2.26 — making the Athlon XP 2500+ the 36.5% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2500+ | Pentium 4 2.26 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $172-29% | $241 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.3+44% | 14.8 |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2002 |
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