Athlon XP 2800+ vs Celeron 2.60

Athlon XP 2800+ vs Celeron 2.60 Performance Spectrum

Athlon XP 2800+

1 / 1

380

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron 2.60

1 / 1

385

+1.3%

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 2800+ vs Celeron 2.60 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 2800+ vs Celeron 2.60: 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 2800+

2001

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Celeron 2.60.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (380 vs 385).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 1.0 vs 7.3 PassMark/$ ($375 MSRP vs $53 MSRP).

Celeron 2.60

2003

Why buy it

✅Costs $322 less on MSRP ($53 MSRP vs $375 MSRP).
✅Delivers 616.9% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 7.3 vs 1.0 PassMark/$ ($53 MSRP vs $375 MSRP).
✅Draws 73W instead of 74W, a 1W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon XP 2800+.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron 2.60 better than Athlon XP 2800+?

Yes. Celeron 2.60 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.3% 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, Celeron 2.60 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 2.60 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.3% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

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

Celeron 2.60 is the better buy right now. Celeron 2.60 comes in $322 cheaper on MSRP at $53 MSRP versus $375 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 616.9% better value on MSRP (7.3 vs 1.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Celeron 2.60 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2003 vs 2001) 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 2800+ vs Celeron 2.60 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon XP 2800+

The Athlon XP 2800+ 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: 2.25 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 74 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 380 points. Launch price was $149.

Celeron 2.60

The Celeron 2.60 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: 2.6 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: 385 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon XP 2800+ and Celeron 2.60 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.25 GHz on the Athlon XP 2800+ versus 2.6 GHz on the Celeron 2.60 — a 14.4% clock advantage for the Celeron 2.60. The Athlon XP 2800+ uses the Barton (2001−2004) architecture (130 nm), while the Celeron 2.60 uses Northwood (2002−2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 2800+ scores 380 against the Celeron 2.60's 385 — a 1.3% lead for the Celeron 2.60. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon XP 2800+	Celeron 2.60
Cores / Threads	1 / 1	1 / 1
Boost Clock	2.25 GHz	2.6 GHz+16%
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512K+300%	128 kB
Process	130 nm	130 nm
Architecture	Barton (2001−2004)	Northwood (2002−2004)
PassMark	380	385+1%
Geekbench 6 Single	250	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	250	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon XP 2800+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Celeron 2.60 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-333 on the Athlon XP 2800+ versus DDR2-400 on the Celeron 2.60 — the Celeron 2.60 supports -220.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 2.60 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. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: KT400,nForce2 Ultra 400 (Athlon XP 2800+) and 845,865,915 (Celeron 2.60).

Feature	Athlon XP 2800+	Celeron 2.60
Socket	A	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 1.1	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR-333	DDR2-400
Max RAM Capacity	2 GB	4 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	1
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Athlon XP 2800+ has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: None (Athlon XP 2800+) vs No (Celeron 2.60). Primary use case: Athlon XP 2800+ targets Legacy Desktop, Celeron 2.60 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2.60 rivals Pentium 4 2.40.

Feature	Athlon XP 2800+	Celeron 2.60
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	None	No
Target Use	Legacy Desktop	Budget

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon XP 2800+ was priced at $375, while the Celeron 2.60 came in at $53. On launch pricing ($375 vs $53), Celeron 2.60 was $322 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 2800+ delivers 1.0 pts/$ vs 7.3 pts/$ for the Celeron 2.60 — making the Celeron 2.60 the 151% better value option.

Feature	Athlon XP 2800+	Celeron 2.60
MSRP	$375	$53-86%
Performance per Dollar	1.0	7.3+630%
Release Date	2001	2003

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