Pentium 4 2.26 vs Atom Z540
Pentium 4 2.26
Atom Z540
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 Pentium 4 2.26 is positioned at rank 1117 and the Atom Z540 is on rank 334, 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 Pentium 4 2.26
Performance Per Dollar Atom Z540
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 4 2.26 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Silverthorne (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 4 2.26 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Pentium 4 2.26 and Atom Z540
Pentium 4 2.26
The Pentium 4 2.26 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: 2.26 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 110 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 295 points. Launch price was $69.
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.
Processing Power
The Pentium 4 2.26 packs 1 cores / 1 threads, matching the Atom Z540's 1 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.26 GHz on the Pentium 4 2.26 versus 0.07 GHz on the Atom Z540 — a 188% clock advantage for the Pentium 4 2.26. The Pentium 4 2.26 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (130 nm), while the Atom Z540 uses Silverthorne (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 4 2.26 scores 295 against the Atom Z540's 305 — a 3.3% lead for the Atom Z540. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium 4 2.26 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.26 GHz+3129% | 0.07 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.86 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512 kB |
| Process | 130 nm | 45 nm-65% |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Silverthorne (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 295 | 305+3% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 4 2.26 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom Z540 uses PBGA441 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 4 2.26 | Atom Z540 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | PBGA441 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-533 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
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