Atom Z520 vs Pentium III 1200

Atom Z520

1 Cores2 Thrd2 WWMax: 0.03 GHz2008

Pentium III 1200

1 Cores1 Thrd30 WWMax: 1.2 GHz2001

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Atom Z520

1 / 2

215

+10.3%

195

0.0%

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 Pentium III 1200 is on rank 1126, so the Atom Z520 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 Z520

#167

Core Ultra 7 258V

MSRP: $450|Avg: $400

98%

#511

Atom x5-Z8300

MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A

682%

#512

Atom Z3735G

MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A

672%

#513

Core i5-480M

MSRP: $81|Avg: $77

617%

#514

Core i5-460M

MSRP: $80|Avg: $129

614%

#515

Core i5-2540M

MSRP: $266|Avg: $10

609%

#517

Core i5-450M

MSRP: $32|Avg: $31

588%

#518

Core i3-380M

MSRP: $49|Avg: $25

564%

#519

Core i5-430M

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33

563%

#520

Core 2 Duo T6600

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4

548%

#523

Atom Z520

MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A

100%

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium III 1200

Ryzen 9 7950X

MSRP: $194|Avg: $20

318077%

Core i9-10900T

MSRP: $120|Avg: $5

300551%

Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE

MSRP: $423|Avg: $5

218224%

Ryzen Threadripper 3960X

MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85

65742%

Ryzen 9 9950X

MSRP: $649|Avg: $129

52074%

Ryzen 5 8400F

MSRP: $303|Avg: $55

45555%

Ryzen 7 PRO 2700

MSRP: $299|Avg: $60

26092%

Ryzen 5 2600X

MSRP: $229|Avg: $55

25751%

Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G

MSRP: $150|Avg: $60

23447%

#10

Core Ultra 5 245KF

MSRP: $294|Avg: $189

23445%

#11

Ryzen 5 5500

MSRP: $159|Avg: $85

23183%

#12

Ryzen 5 3600

MSRP: $199|Avg: $80

22557%

#13

Core i3-9100E

MSRP: $202|Avg: $30

22242%

#14

Core Ultra 5 245K

MSRP: $319|Avg: $200

22152%

#15

Core i3-8300T

MSRP: $138|Avg: $25

21951%

#1126

Pentium III 1200

MSRP: $200|Avg: $10

100%

#1127

Athlon XP 3200+

MSRP: $464|Avg: $40

98%

#1128

Pentium III 1400

MSRP: $250|Avg: $20

93%

#1129

Pentium 4 2.60

MSRP: $401|Avg: $25

93%

#1130

Pentium III 1400S

MSRP: $250|Avg: $250

93%

#1131

Athlon XP 1800+

MSRP: $252|Avg: $30

91%

#1132

Athlon XP 1900+

MSRP: $269|Avg: $20

90%

#1133

Athlon 64 FX-51

MSRP: $733|Avg: $733

86%

#1134

Athlon 64 FX-55

MSRP: $827|Avg: $50

85%

#1135

Athlon 64 FX-53

MSRP: $799|Avg: $15

83%

#1136

Athlon XP 2000+

MSRP: $339|Avg: $40

76%

#1137

Athlon 64 FX-57

MSRP: $1031|Avg: $200

71%

#1138

Athlon XP 3000+

MSRP: $588|Avg: $20

70%

#1139

Athlon XP 2100+

MSRP: $420|Avg: $30

64%

#1140

Pentium III 1266S

MSRP: $369|Avg: $20

58%

#1141

Pentium 4 1.80

MSRP: $562|Avg: $40

41%

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 Z520 (2008) utilizes 45 nm technology and modern memory, providing a fundamental performance advantage.

Insight	Atom Z520	Pentium III 1200
Gaming	❌ Lower gaming performance	✅ Superior gaming performance
Workstation	✅ Better multi-core power	❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks
Price	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($10)
Longevity	🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm)	🛑 Legacy (Tualatin (2000−2002) / 130 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Pentium III 1200 (2001) relies on 130 nm technology and older memory, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.

Insight	Atom Z520	Pentium III 1200
Cost Efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency	❌ Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅ More affordable ($0)	⚠️ Higher cost ($10)

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 Z520 Benchmark Check

Pentium III 1200 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Atom Z520 and Pentium III 1200

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.

Pentium III 1200

The Pentium III 1200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Tualatin (2000−2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 256 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA370. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 195 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Atom Z520 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Pentium III 1200's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.03 GHz on the Atom Z520 versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium III 1200 — a 190.2% clock advantage for the Pentium III 1200. The Atom Z520 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium III 1200 uses Tualatin (2000−2002) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z520 scores 215 against the Pentium III 1200's 195 — a 9.8% lead for the Atom Z520. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Atom Z520	Pentium III 1200
Cores / Threads	1 / 2	1 / 1
Boost Clock	0.03 GHz	1.2 GHz+3900%
Base Clock	1.33 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB+100%	256 kB
Process	45 nm-65%	130 nm
Architecture	Silverthorne (2008−2010)	Tualatin (2000−2002)
PassMark	215+10%	195

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Atom Z520 uses the PBGA441 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium III 1200 uses PGA370 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom Z520 versus SDR-133 on the Pentium III 1200 — the Atom Z520 supports -206.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium III 1200 supports up to 512 MB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 198.4% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Atom Z520	Pentium III 1200
Socket	PBGA441	PGA370
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-533	SDR-133
Max RAM Capacity	2 GB+300%	512 MB
RAM Channels	1	1
ECC Support	❌	❌
PCIe Lanes	0	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Atom Z520) vs None (Pentium III 1200). Primary use case: Atom Z520 targets Mobile, Pentium III 1200 targets Legacy.