Atom Z520 vs Athlon XP 1500+
Atom Z520
Athlon XP 1500+
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 Z520 is positioned at rank 523 and the Athlon XP 1500+ is on rank 1111, so the Atom Z520 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z520
Performance Per Dollar Athlon XP 1500+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom Z520 | Athlon XP 1500+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Palomino (2001) / 180 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom Z520 | Athlon XP 1500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 Z520 and Athlon XP 1500+
Atom Z520
The Atom Z520 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 1.33 GHz, with boost up to 0.03 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA441. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 215 points. Launch price was $65.
Athlon XP 1500+
The Athlon XP 1500+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Palomino (2001) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.33 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 180 nm process technology. Socket: A. Thermal design power (TDP): 60 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 188 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Atom Z520 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Athlon XP 1500+'s 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.03 GHz on the Atom Z520 versus 1.33 GHz on the Athlon XP 1500+ — a 191.2% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 1500+. The Atom Z520 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon XP 1500+ uses Palomino (2001) (180 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z520 scores 215 against the Athlon XP 1500+'s 188 — a 13.4% lead for the Atom Z520. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom Z520 | Athlon XP 1500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 0.03 GHz | 1.33 GHz+4333% |
| Base Clock | 1.33 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB+100% | 256 kB |
| Process | 45 nm-75% | 180 nm |
| Architecture | Silverthorne (2008−2010) | Palomino (2001) |
| PassMark | 215+14% | 188 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom Z520 uses the PBGA441 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon XP 1500+ uses A (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom Z520 versus DDR-266 on the Athlon XP 1500+ — the Atom Z520 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. Chipset compatibility: Intel US15W (Atom Z520) and AMD Socket A (Athlon XP 1500+).
| Feature | Atom Z520 | Athlon XP 1500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA441 | 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 | — |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Atom Z520) vs None (Athlon XP 1500+). Primary use case: Atom Z520 targets Mobile, Athlon XP 1500+ targets Desktop.
| Feature | Atom Z520 | Athlon XP 1500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | None |
| Target Use | Mobile | Desktop |
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