Atom Z540 vs Pentium 4 2.40

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.

Atom Z540 vs Pentium 4 2.40 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Atom Z540 vs Pentium 4 2.40: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Atom Z540

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 2W instead of 110W, a 108W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (305 vs 325).

Pentium 4 2.40

2004

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $193 MSRP, while Atom Z540 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌4483.3% higher power demand at 110W vs 2.4W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium 4 2.40 better than Atom Z540?

Yes. Pentium 4 2.40 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 6.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium 4 2.40 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 3328.6% higher max boost clock.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Pentium 4 2.40 is the stronger fit. You are getting 6.6% better PassMark, backed by 1 cores and 1 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Pentium 4 2.40 is the better buy right now. Pentium 4 2.40 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $193 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 6.6% higher PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (1.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Atom Z540 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2008 vs 2004). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Atom Z540 vs Pentium 4 2.40 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

Pentium 4 2.40

The Pentium 4 2.40 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 110 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 325 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Atom Z540 packs 1 cores / 2 threads, matching the Pentium 4 2.40's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.07 GHz on the Atom Z540 versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium 4 2.40 — a 188.7% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 2.40. The Atom Z540 uses the Silverthorne (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium 4 2.40 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Atom Z540 scores 305 against the Pentium 4 2.40's 325 — a 6.3% lead for the Pentium 4 2.40. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Atom Z540	Pentium 4 2.40
Cores / Threads	1 / 2	1 / 1
Boost Clock	0.07 GHz	2.4 GHz+3329%
Base Clock	1.86 GHz	—
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512 kB	1 MB+100%
Process	45 nm-50%	90 nm
Architecture	Silverthorne (2008−2010)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	305	325+7%

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Memory & Platform

The Atom Z540 uses the PBGA441 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium 4 2.40 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-533 on the Atom Z540 versus 400 on the Pentium 4 2.40 — the Atom Z540 supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Pentium 4 2.40 supports up to 4 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 1-channel memory with ECC support. Chipset compatibility: Intel US15W (Atom Z540) and Socket 478 (Pentium 4 2.40).

Feature	Atom Z540	Pentium 4 2.40
Socket	PBGA441	PGA478
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR2-533+33%	400
Max RAM Capacity	2 GB	4 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	1
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	—