Atom N2600 vs Phenom II X2 N640
Atom N2600
Phenom II X2 N640
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 N2600 is positioned at rank 40 and the Phenom II X2 N640 is on rank 977, so the Atom N2600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N2600
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 N640
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N2600 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Cedarview-M (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N2600 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) |
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 N2600 and Phenom II X2 N640
Atom N2600
The Atom N2600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Cedarview-M (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 3.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,528 points. Launch price was $47.
Phenom II X2 N640
The Phenom II X2 N640 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.9 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,505 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Atom N2600 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Phenom II X2 N640's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Atom N2600 versus 2.9 GHz on the Phenom II X2 N640 — a 57.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 N640. The Atom N2600 uses the Cedarview-M (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Phenom II X2 N640 uses Champlain (2010−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N2600 scores 1,528 against the Phenom II X2 N640's 1,505 — a 1.5% lead for the Atom N2600.
| Feature | Atom N2600 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.9 GHz+81% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 2 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Cedarview-M (2011−2012) | Champlain (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,528+2% | 1,505 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 422 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N2600 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Phenom II X2 N640 uses S1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-800 memory speed. The Phenom II X2 N640 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom N2600) vs 2 (Phenom II X2 N640). PCIe lanes: 4 (Atom N2600) vs 16 (Phenom II X2 N640) — the Phenom II X2 N640 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel NM10 (Atom N2600) and RS880M (Phenom II X2 N640).
| Feature | Atom N2600 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA559 | S1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-800 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 8 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom N2600) / AMD-V (Phenom II X2 N640). The Atom N2600 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 3600), while the Phenom II X2 N640 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Phenom II X2 N640 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Atom N2600 | Phenom II X2 N640 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel GMA 3600 | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Laptop |
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