Atom 230 vs Athlon XP 2100+
Atom 230
Athlon XP 2100+
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 Atom 230 is positioned at rank 451 and the Athlon XP 2100+ is on rank 1139, so the Atom 230 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom 230
Performance Per Dollar Athlon XP 2100+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom 230 | Athlon XP 2100+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Thoroughbred (2001−2002) / 180 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom 230 | Athlon XP 2100+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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 Atom 230 and Athlon XP 2100+
Atom 230
The Atom 230 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 0.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA437. Thermal design power (TDP): 4 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 248 points. Launch price was $29.
Athlon XP 2100+
The Athlon XP 2100+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Thoroughbred (2001−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.73 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 180 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 72 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 265 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Atom 230 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Athlon XP 2100+'s 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.1 GHz on the Atom 230 versus 1.73 GHz on the Athlon XP 2100+ — a 178.1% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 2100+. The Atom 230 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon XP 2100+ uses Thoroughbred (2001−2002) (180 nm). In PassMark, the Atom 230 scores 248 against the Athlon XP 2100+'s 265 — a 6.6% lead for the Athlon XP 2100+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom 230 | Athlon XP 2100+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 0.1 GHz | 1.73 GHz+1630% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB |
| Process | 45 nm-75% | 180 nm |
| Architecture | Silverthorne (2008−2010) | Thoroughbred (2001−2002) |
| PassMark | 248 | 265+7% |
Memory & Platform
The Atom 230 uses the PBGA437 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon XP 2100+ uses A (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom 230 versus DDR-266 on the Athlon XP 2100+ — the Atom 230 supports -203% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon XP 2100+ 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: Intel BGA437 (Atom 230) and AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 2100+).
| Feature | Atom 230 | Athlon XP 2100+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA437 | A |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR-266 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
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