Athlon XP 3100+ vs Athlon 64 2800+
Athlon XP 3100+
Athlon 64 2800+
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 3100+ is positioned at rank 1096 and the Athlon 64 2800+ is on rank 1098, so the Athlon XP 3100+ 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 3100+
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 2800+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon XP 3100+ | Athlon 64 2800+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Thorton (2001−2003) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NewCastle (2004) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon XP 3100+ | Athlon 64 2800+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+32%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 3100+ and Athlon 64 2800+
Athlon XP 3100+
The Athlon XP 3100+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Thorton (2001−2003) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 68 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 425 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon 64 2800+
The Athlon 64 2800+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Abril 2004 (21 years ago). It is based on the NewCastle (2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 420 points. Launch price was $100.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon XP 3100+ and Athlon 64 2800+ share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon XP 3100+ versus 1.8 GHz on the Athlon 64 2800+ — a 20% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 3100+. The Athlon XP 3100+ uses the Thorton (2001−2003) architecture (130 nm), while the Athlon 64 2800+ uses NewCastle (2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 3100+ scores 425 against the Athlon 64 2800+'s 420 — a 1.2% lead for the Athlon XP 3100+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon XP 3100+ | Athlon 64 2800+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+22% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Thorton (2001−2003) | NewCastle (2004) |
| PassMark | 425+1% | 420 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon XP 3100+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon 64 2800+ uses 754 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-333 on the Athlon XP 3100+ versus DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 2800+ — the Athlon XP 3100+ supports -18.3% 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. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 3100+) and AMD 754 (Athlon 64 2800+).
| Feature | Athlon XP 3100+ | Athlon 64 2800+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | A | 754 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-333 | DDR-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Athlon XP 3100+ launched at $150 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 2800+ debuted at $178. At current prices ($20 vs $15), the Athlon 64 2800+ is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 3100+ delivers 21.3 pts/$ vs 28.0 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 2800+ — making the Athlon 64 2800+ the 27.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon XP 3100+ | Athlon 64 2800+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-16% | $178 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $15-25% |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.3 | 28.0+31% |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2004 |
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