Athlon XP 3100+ vs Xeon 2.66
Athlon XP 3100+
Xeon 2.66
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 Xeon 2.66 is on rank 1028, so the Xeon 2.66 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 Xeon 2.66
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon XP 3100+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Thorton (2001−2003) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Prestonia (2002) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon XP 3100+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+109%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 Xeon 2.66
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.
Xeon 2.66
The Xeon 2.66 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Prestonia (2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 445 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon XP 3100+ and Xeon 2.66 share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon XP 3100+ versus 2.66 GHz on the Xeon 2.66 — a 18.9% clock advantage for the Xeon 2.66. The Athlon XP 3100+ uses the Thorton (2001−2003) architecture (130 nm), while the Xeon 2.66 uses Prestonia (2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon XP 3100+ scores 425 against the Xeon 2.66's 445 — a 4.6% lead for the Xeon 2.66. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon XP 3100+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.66 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB | 512 kB+100% |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Thorton (2001−2003) | Prestonia (2002) |
| PassMark | 425 | 445+5% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon XP 3100+ uses the A socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Xeon 2.66 uses PGA604 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon XP 3100+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | A | PGA604 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-333 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 1 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon XP 3100+ launched at $150 MSRP, while the Xeon 2.66 debuted at $337. At current prices ($20 vs $10), the Xeon 2.66 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon XP 3100+ delivers 21.3 pts/$ vs 44.5 pts/$ for the Xeon 2.66 — making the Xeon 2.66 the 70.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon XP 3100+ | Xeon 2.66 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-55% | $337 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $20 | $10-50% |
| Performance per Dollar | 21.3 | 44.5+109% |
| Release Date | 2003 | 2002 |
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