CPU
GPU
Celeron 900
Athlon 64 3200+
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 Celeron 900 is positioned at rank 1193 and the Athlon 64 3200+ is on rank 1118, so the Athlon 64 3200+ offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 900
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 3200+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 900 | Athlon 64 3200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 900 | Athlon 64 3200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+92%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($5) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) |
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 Celeron 900 and Athlon 64 3200+
Celeron 900
The Celeron 900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. Base frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 485 points. Launch price was $69.
Athlon 64 3200+
The Athlon 64 3200+ is manufactured by AMD. It was released in Janeiro 2001 (24 years ago). It is based on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: 754. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 505 points. Launch price was $150.
Processing Power
The Athlon 64 3200+ is built on the Clawhammer (2001−2005) architecture. In PassMark, the Celeron 900 scores 485 against the Athlon 64 3200+'s 505 — a 4% lead for the Athlon 64 3200+. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache on the Celeron 900 vs 0 kB on the Athlon 64 3200+.
| Feature | Celeron 900 | Athlon 64 3200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | — | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 1 MB L2 Cache | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | — | 512K |
| Process | 45 nm-65% | 130 nm |
| Architecture | — | Clawhammer (2001−2005) |
| PassMark | 485 | 505+4% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 220 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 229 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 900 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 3200+ uses 754 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Celeron 900 versus DDR1-400 on the Athlon 64 3200+ — the Celeron 900 supports 100% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 4 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (Celeron 900) vs 2 (Athlon 64 3200+). PCIe lanes: 0 (Celeron 900) vs 16 (Athlon 64 3200+) — the Athlon 64 3200+ offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: GL40,GM45 (Celeron 900) and Socket 939,Socket 754 (Athlon 64 3200+).
| Feature | Celeron 900 | Athlon 64 3200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | 754 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+200% | DDR1-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: No (Celeron 900) vs false (Athlon 64 3200+). Primary use case: Celeron 900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 900 rivals Pentium 4 2.80.
| Feature | Celeron 900 | Athlon 64 3200+ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | No | false |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
Value Analysis
The Celeron 900 launched at $86 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 3200+ debuted at $417. At current prices ($5 vs $10), the Celeron 900 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Celeron 900 delivers 97.0 pts/$ vs 50.5 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 3200+ — making the Celeron 900 the 63.1% better value option.
| Feature | Celeron 900 | Athlon 64 3200+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $86-79% | $417 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-50% | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 97.0+92% | 50.5 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2001 |
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