Athlon XP 2500+ vs Pentium 4 2.40

Athlon XP 2500+ vs Pentium 4 2.40 Performance Spectrum

Athlon XP 2500+

1 / 1

320

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

Pentium 4 2.40

1 / 1

325

+1.6%

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 2500+ vs Pentium 4 2.40 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 2500+ vs Pentium 4 2.40: 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 2500+

2003

Why buy it

✅Costs $21 less on MSRP ($172 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 1.9 vs 1.7 PassMark/$ ($172 MSRP vs $193 MSRP).
✅Draws 68W instead of 110W, a 42W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Pentium 4 2.40.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (320 vs 325).

Pentium 4 2.40

2004

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.7 vs 1.9 PassMark/$ ($193 MSRP vs $172 MSRP).
❌61.8% higher power demand at 110W vs 68W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon XP 2500+.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium 4 2.40 better than Athlon XP 2500+?

Yes. Pentium 4 2.40 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 1.6% better PassMark and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium 4 2.40 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 31.1% higher max boost clock.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium 4 2.40 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.6% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium 4 2.40 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium 4 2.40 comes in 12.2% more expensive on MSRP at $193 MSRP versus $172 MSRP, and it still gives you 1.6% higher PassMark. Athlon XP 2500+ only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2003 platform. Even with 10.5% better value on paper (1.9 vs 1.7 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on A.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Pentium 4 2.40 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2004 vs 2003) 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 2500+ vs Pentium 4 2.40 Technical Specifications

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

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 2.40

The Pentium 4 2.40 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: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 110 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 325 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon XP 2500+ and Pentium 4 2.40 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Athlon XP 2500+ versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium 4 2.40 — a 27% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 2.40. The Athlon XP 2500+ uses the Barton (2001−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Pentium 4 2.40 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 2500+ scores 320 against the Pentium 4 2.40's 325 — a 1.6% lead for the Pentium 4 2.40. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon XP 2500+	Pentium 4 2.40
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	1 / 1
Boost Clock	1.83 GHz	2.4 GHz+31%
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	1 MB+100%
Process	130 nm	90 nm-31%
Architecture	Barton (2001−2004)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	320	325+2%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon XP 2500+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Pentium 4 2.40 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon XP 2500+ versus 400 on the Pentium 4 2.40 — the Pentium 4 2.40 supports -200% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium 4 2.40 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: Socket A (Athlon XP 2500+) and Socket 478 (Pentium 4 2.40).

Feature	Athlon XP 2500+	Pentium 4 2.40
Socket	A	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR-400	400
Max RAM Capacity	2 GB	4 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	1
ECC Support	No	No

🔧

Advanced Features

Both support false virtualization.

Feature	Athlon XP 2500+	Pentium 4 2.40
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	false	false

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon XP 2500+ was priced at $172, while the Pentium 4 2.40 came in at $193. On launch pricing ($172 vs $193), Athlon XP 2500+ was $21 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2500+ delivers 1.9 pts/$ vs 1.7 pts/$ for the Pentium 4 2.40 — making the Athlon XP 2500+ the 10% better value option.

Feature	Athlon XP 2500+	Pentium 4 2.40
MSRP	$172-11%	$193
Performance per Dollar	1.9+12%	1.7
Release Date	2003	2004

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