CPU
GPU
Athlon XP 2600+
Celeron 2.40
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 2600+ is positioned at rank 1085 and the Celeron 2.40 is on rank 1072, so the Celeron 2.40 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 2600+
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2.40
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon XP 2600+ | Celeron 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon XP 2600+ | Celeron 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+28%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($13) |
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 2600+ and Celeron 2.40
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.
Celeron 2.40
The Celeron 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: 128 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 345 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon XP 2600+ and Celeron 2.40 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.92 GHz on the Athlon XP 2600+ versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron 2.40 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Celeron 2.40. The Athlon XP 2600+ uses the Barton (2001−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Celeron 2.40 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 2600+ scores 340 against the Celeron 2.40's 345 — a 1.5% lead for the Celeron 2.40. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Celeron 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 1.92 GHz | 2.4 GHz+25% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512K+300% | 128 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Barton (2001−2004) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 340 | 345+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 150 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 150 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon XP 2600+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron 2.40 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-333 on the Athlon XP 2600+ versus DDR1-333 on the Celeron 2.40 — the Celeron 2.40 supports -201.2% 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. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 2600+) and Intel 845,Intel 865 (Celeron 2.40).
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Celeron 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | A | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-333 | DDR1-333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon XP 2600+) / None (Celeron 2.40). Primary use case: Celeron 2.40 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.40 rivals Pentium 4 2.40.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Celeron 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | None |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon XP 2600+ launched at $98 MSRP, while the Celeron 2.40 debuted at $69. At current prices ($10 vs $13), the Athlon XP 2600+ is $3 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2600+ delivers 34.0 pts/$ vs 26.5 pts/$ for the Celeron 2.40 — making the Athlon XP 2600+ the 24.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Celeron 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $98 | $69-30% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-23% | $13 |
| Performance per Dollar | 34.0+28% | 26.5 |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2003 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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