Atom N450 vs Athlon XP 2500+

Atom N450

1 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.67 GHz2009

Athlon XP 2500+

1 Cores1 Thrd68 WWMax: 1.83 GHz2003

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Atom N450

1 / 2

325

+1.6%

320

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Ryzen Threadripper 7970X

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 N450 is positioned at rank 660 and the Athlon XP 2500+ is on rank 1105, so the Atom N450 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Atom N450

#648

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

903%

#649

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

890%

#650

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

817%

#651

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

813%

#652

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

805%

#654

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

778%

#655

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

746%

#656

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

745%

#657

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

725%

#660

Atom N450

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

#662

Athlon II P360

MSRP: $60|Avg: $10

100%

#665

Athlon X2 QL-64

MSRP: $50|Avg: $15

99%

#666

Core 3 N350

MSRP: $225|Avg: $220

99%

#668

FX-7500

MSRP: $100|Avg: $25

99%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Athlon XP 2500+

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

167589%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

158355%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

114978%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

34638%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

27437%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

24002%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

13747%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

13568%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

12354%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

12353%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

12215%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

11885%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

11719%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

11672%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

11566%

#1105

Athlon XP 2500+

MSRP: $172|Avg: $15

100%

#1106

Athlon 64 3800+

MSRP: $354|Avg: $10

98%

#1107

Pentium 4 2.53

MSRP: $193|Avg: $13

96%

#1108

Pentium 4 2.40

MSRP: $193|Avg: $193

90%

#1109

Athlon XP 2400+

MSRP: $193|Avg: $10

85%

#1110

Pentium D 950

MSRP: $637|Avg: $10

79%

#1111

Athlon XP 1500+

MSRP: $130|Avg: $15

78%

#1112

Athlon 64 4000+

MSRP: $482|Avg: $30

75%

#1113

Pentium 4 2.66

MSRP: $300|Avg: $300

68%

#1114

Pentium 4 2.80

MSRP: $327|Avg: $25

67%

#1115

Athlon XP 1600+

MSRP: $160|Avg: $15

67%

#1116

Athlon 64 3400+

MSRP: $440|Avg: $20

67%

#1117

Pentium 4 2.26

MSRP: $241|Avg: $20

66%

#1118

Athlon 64 3200+

MSRP: $417|Avg: $10

65%

#1119

Athlon 64 FX-60

MSRP: $1031|Avg: $1000

63%

#1120

Pentium Extreme Edition 965

MSRP: $999|Avg: $100

63%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The Atom N450 (2009) utilizes 45 nm technology and DDR2, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Atom N450	Athlon XP 2500+
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($15)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Pinetrail (2009−2011) / 45 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Athlon XP 2500+ (2003) relies on 130 nm technology and older memory, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Atom N450	Athlon XP 2500+
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($15)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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.

Atom N450 Benchmark Check

Athlon XP 2500+ Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Atom N450 and Athlon XP 2500+

Atom N450

The Atom N450 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 21 December 2009 (15 years ago). It is based on the Pinetrail (2009−2011) architecture. It features 1 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.66 GHz, with boost up to 1.67 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 5.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 325 points. Launch price was $64.

Athlon XP 2500+

The Athlon XP 2500+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Barton (2001−2004) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 68 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 320 points. Launch price was $149.

⚡

Processing Power

The Atom N450 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Athlon XP 2500+'s 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.67 GHz on the Atom N450 versus 1.83 GHz on the Athlon XP 2500+ — a 9.1% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 2500+. The Atom N450 uses the Pinetrail (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon XP 2500+ uses Barton (2001−2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N450 scores 325 against the Athlon XP 2500+'s 320 — a 1.6% lead for the Atom N450. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Atom N450	Athlon XP 2500+
Cores / Threads	1 / 2	1 / 1
Boost Clock	1.67 GHz	1.83 GHz+10%
Base Clock	1.66 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB (per core)	512 kB
Process	45 nm-65%	130 nm
Architecture	Pinetrail (2009−2011)	Barton (2001−2004)
PassMark	325+2%	320

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Atom N450 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon XP 2500+ uses A (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Atom N450 versus DDR-400 on the Athlon XP 2500+ — the Atom N450 supports -202% 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. Chipset compatibility: Intel NM10 (Atom N450) and Socket A (Athlon XP 2500+).

Feature	Atom N450	Athlon XP 2500+
Socket	FCBGA559	A
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-667	DDR-400
Max RAM Capacity	2 GB	2 GB
RAM Channels	1	1
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	0	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Atom N450) / false (Athlon XP 2500+). The Atom N450 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 3150), while the Athlon XP 2500+ requires a dedicated GPU.