CPU
GPU
Atom Z540
Athlon 64 2000+
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 Z540 is positioned at rank 334 and the Athlon 64 2000+ is on rank 1088, so the Atom Z540 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z540
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 2000+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom Z540 | Athlon 64 2000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Lima (2008−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom Z540 | Athlon 64 2000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 Z540 and Athlon 64 2000+
Atom Z540
The Atom Z540 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 1.86 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PBGA441. Thermal design power (TDP): 2.4 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 305 points. Launch price was $160.
Athlon 64 2000+
The Athlon 64 2000+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Lima (2008−2009) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 330 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Atom Z540 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Athlon 64 2000+'s 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Atom Z540 versus 1 GHz on the Athlon 64 2000+ — a 173.8% clock advantage for the Athlon 64 2000+. The Atom Z540 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon 64 2000+ uses Lima (2008−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z540 scores 305 against the Athlon 64 2000+'s 330 — a 7.9% lead for the Athlon 64 2000+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom Z540 | Athlon 64 2000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 1 GHz+1329% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Silverthorne (2008−2010) | Lima (2008−2009) |
| PassMark | 305 | 330+8% |
Memory & Platform
The Atom Z540 uses the PBGA441 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 2000+ uses AM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR2-533 memory speed. The Athlon 64 2000+ supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom Z540) vs 2 (Athlon 64 2000+). PCIe lanes: 0 (Atom Z540) vs 16 (Athlon 64 2000+) — the Athlon 64 2000+ offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel US15W (Atom Z540) and AMD AM2 (Athlon 64 2000+).
| Feature | Atom Z540 | Athlon 64 2000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA441 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR2-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 16 GB+700% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
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