Pentium D 940 vs Athlon X2 BE-2300
Pentium D 940
Athlon X2 BE-2300
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 940 is positioned at rank 1055 and the Athlon X2 BE-2300 is on rank 1011, so the Athlon X2 BE-2300 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 940
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 BE-2300
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium D 940 | Athlon X2 BE-2300 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Brisbane (2007−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium D 940 | Athlon X2 BE-2300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+416%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 940 and Athlon X2 BE-2300
Pentium D 940
The Pentium D 940 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 5 January 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 130 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 875 points. Launch price was $423.
Athlon X2 BE-2300
The Athlon X2 BE-2300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Brisbane (2007−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 905 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium D 940 and Athlon X2 BE-2300 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Pentium D 940 versus 1.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 BE-2300 — a 51% clock advantage for the Pentium D 940. The Pentium D 940 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon X2 BE-2300 uses Brisbane (2007−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium D 940 scores 875 against the Athlon X2 BE-2300's 905 — a 3.4% lead for the Athlon X2 BE-2300. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium D 940 | Athlon X2 BE-2300 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+68% | 1.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 65 nm | 65 nm |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Brisbane (2007−2008) |
| PassMark | 875 | 905+3% |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium D 940 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon X2 BE-2300 uses AM2 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium D 940 | Athlon X2 BE-2300 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Pentium D 940 launched at $132 MSRP, while the Athlon X2 BE-2300 debuted at $100. At current prices ($15 vs $80), the Pentium D 940 is $65 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium D 940 delivers 58.3 pts/$ vs 11.3 pts/$ for the Athlon X2 BE-2300 — making the Pentium D 940 the 135% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium D 940 | Athlon X2 BE-2300 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $132 | $100-24% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-81% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 58.3+416% | 11.3 |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2007 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Pentium D 940 and Athlon X2 BE-2300
