
Atom N270 vs Athlon XP 2200+

Atom N270

Athlon XP 2200+
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 N270 is positioned at rank 411 and the Athlon XP 2200+ is on rank 1121, so the Atom N270 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N270
Performance Per Dollar Athlon XP 2200+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N270 | Athlon XP 2200+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (DiamondVille (2008−2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Thorton (2001−2003) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N270 | Athlon XP 2200+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 N270 and Athlon XP 2200+

Atom N270
The Atom N270 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 April 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the DiamondVille (2008−2009) 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): 2.5 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 265 points. Launch price was $44.

Athlon XP 2200+
The Athlon XP 2200+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the Thorton (2001−2003) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.8 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: 280 points. Launch price was $85.
Processing Power
The Atom N270 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Athlon XP 2200+'s 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.1 GHz on the Atom N270 versus 1.8 GHz on the Athlon XP 2200+ — a 178.9% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 2200+. The Atom N270 uses the DiamondVille (2008−2009) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon XP 2200+ uses Thorton (2001−2003) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N270 scores 265 against the Athlon XP 2200+'s 280 — a 5.5% lead for the Athlon XP 2200+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom N270 | Athlon XP 2200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 0.1 GHz | 1.8 GHz+1700% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB |
| Process | 45 nm-65% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | DiamondVille (2008−2009) | Thorton (2001−2003) |
| PassMark | 265 | 280+6% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 200 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 200 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N270 uses the PBGA437 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon XP 2200+ uses A (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom N270 versus DDR-266 on the Athlon XP 2200+ — the Atom N270 supports -203% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 2 GB of RAM. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel PBGA437 (Atom N270) and KT333,nForce2 (Athlon XP 2200+).
| Feature | Atom N270 | Athlon XP 2200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA437 | A |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR-266 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom N270) / None (Athlon XP 2200+). Primary use case: Athlon XP 2200+ targets Legacy Desktop.
| Feature | Atom N270 | Athlon XP 2200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | None |
| Target Use | — | Legacy Desktop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
















