CPU
GPU
Atom Z540
Athlon XP 2500+
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 XP 2500+ is on rank 1105, 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 XP 2500+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom Z540 | Athlon XP 2500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Barton (2001−2004) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom Z540 | Athlon XP 2500+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Z540 and Athlon XP 2500+
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 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 Z540 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Athlon XP 2500+'s 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Atom Z540 versus 1.83 GHz on the Athlon XP 2500+ — a 185.3% clock advantage for the Athlon XP 2500+. The Atom Z540 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon XP 2500+ uses Barton (2001−2004) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z540 scores 305 against the Athlon XP 2500+'s 320 — a 4.8% lead for the Athlon XP 2500+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom Z540 | Athlon XP 2500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 2 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 0.07 GHz | 1.83 GHz+2514% |
| Base Clock | 1.86 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm-65% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Silverthorne (2008−2010) | Barton (2001−2004) |
| PassMark | 305 | 320+5% |
Memory & Platform
The Atom Z540 uses the PBGA441 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 DDR2-533 on the Atom Z540 versus DDR-400 on the Athlon XP 2500+ — the Atom Z540 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 US15W (Atom Z540) and Socket A (Athlon XP 2500+).
| Feature | Atom Z540 | Athlon XP 2500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PBGA441 | A |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-533 | DDR-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom Z540) / false (Athlon XP 2500+).
| Feature | Atom Z540 | Athlon XP 2500+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | false |
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