
Pentium D 915 vs Atom D2560

Pentium D 915

Atom D2560
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 D 915 is positioned at rank 1002 and the Atom D2560 is on rank 218, so the Atom D2560 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium D 915
Performance Per Dollar Atom D2560
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium D 915 | Atom D2560 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cedarview (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium D 915 | Atom D2560 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($10) | ✅ 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 D 915 and Atom D2560

Pentium D 915
The Pentium D 915 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 July 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 705 points. Launch price was $74.

Atom D2560
The Atom D2560 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 24 October 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Cedarview (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800, DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 765 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Pentium D 915 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Atom D2560's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium D 915 versus 2 GHz on the Atom D2560 — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Pentium D 915 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Pentium D 915 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Atom D2560 uses Cedarview (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium D 915 scores 705 against the Atom D2560's 765 — a 8.2% lead for the Atom D2560. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium D 915 vs 1 MB on the Atom D2560.
| Feature | Pentium D 915 | Atom D2560 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+40% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz+40% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 1 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Cedarview (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 705 | 765+9% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium D 915 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Atom D2560 uses FCBGA559 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium D 915 | Atom D2560 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FCBGA559 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 4 |
Advanced Features
The Atom D2560 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 3650), while the Pentium D 915 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | Pentium D 915 | Atom D2560 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Intel GMA 3650 |
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