CPU
GPU
Athlon XP 2600+
Pentium 4 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 Pentium 4 2.40 is on rank 1108, 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 2600+
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 4 2.40
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon XP 2600+ | Pentium 4 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($193) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon XP 2600+ | Pentium 4 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1919%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($193) |
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 Pentium 4 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.
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 2600+ and Pentium 4 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 Pentium 4 2.40 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 2.40. The Athlon XP 2600+ 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 2600+ scores 340 against the Pentium 4 2.40's 325 — a 4.5% lead for the Athlon XP 2600+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Pentium 4 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 | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 130 nm | 90 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Barton (2001−2004) | NetBurst (2000−2006) |
| PassMark | 340+5% | 325 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon XP 2600+ 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-333 on the Athlon XP 2600+ versus 400 on the Pentium 4 2.40 — the Pentium 4 2.40 supports 2188.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4 GB of RAM. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 2600+) and Socket 478 (Pentium 4 2.40).
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Pentium 4 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | A | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-333 | 400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+104857500% | 4 |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon XP 2600+) / false (Pentium 4 2.40).
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Pentium 4 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | false |
Value Analysis
The Athlon XP 2600+ launched at $98 MSRP, while the Pentium 4 2.40 debuted at $193. At current prices ($10 vs $193), the Athlon XP 2600+ is $183 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2600+ delivers 34.0 pts/$ vs 1.7 pts/$ for the Pentium 4 2.40 — making the Athlon XP 2600+ the 181.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon XP 2600+ | Pentium 4 2.40 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $98-49% | $193 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-95% | $193 |
| Performance per Dollar | 34.0+1900% | 1.7 |
| Release Date | 2001 | 2004 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon XP 2600+ and Pentium 4 2.40
