Phenom II X2 N640 vs Atom N2600
Phenom II X2 N640
Atom N2600
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 Phenom II X2 N640 is positioned at rank 977 and the Atom N2600 is on rank 40, so the Atom N2600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Phenom II X2 N640
Performance Per Dollar Atom N2600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Phenom II X2 N640 | Atom N2600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Cedarview-M (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Phenom II X2 N640 | Atom N2600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($55) | ✅ 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 Phenom II X2 N640 and Atom N2600
Phenom II X2 N640
The Phenom II X2 N640 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.9 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,505 points. Launch price was $149.
Atom N2600
The Atom N2600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Cedarview-M (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 3.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,528 points. Launch price was $47.
Processing Power
The Phenom II X2 N640 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Atom N2600's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Phenom II X2 N640 versus 1.6 GHz on the Atom N2600 — a 57.8% clock advantage for the Phenom II X2 N640. The Phenom II X2 N640 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom N2600 uses Cedarview-M (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Phenom II X2 N640 scores 1,505 against the Atom N2600's 1,528 — a 1.5% lead for the Atom N2600.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 N640 | Atom N2600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 2.9 GHz+81% | 1.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Cedarview-M (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,505 | 1,528+2% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 300 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 422 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Phenom II X2 N640 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom N2600 uses FCBGA559 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. The Phenom II X2 N640 supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 2 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Phenom II X2 N640) vs 1 (Atom N2600). PCIe lanes: 16 (Phenom II X2 N640) vs 4 (Atom N2600) — the Phenom II X2 N640 offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: RS880M (Phenom II X2 N640) and Intel NM10 (Atom N2600).
| Feature | Phenom II X2 N640 | Atom N2600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | FCBGA559 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+300% | 2 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+300% | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Phenom II X2 N640) / not specified (Atom N2600). The Atom N2600 includes integrated graphics (Intel GMA 3600), while the Phenom II X2 N640 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Phenom II X2 N640 targets Legacy Laptop.
| Feature | Phenom II X2 N640 | Atom N2600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel GMA 3600 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
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