Xeon 2.66 vs Athlon 64 3000+
Xeon 2.66
Athlon 64 3000+
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 Xeon 2.66 is positioned at rank 1028 and the Athlon 64 3000+ is on rank 1095, so the Xeon 2.66 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon 2.66
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 3000+
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon 2.66 | Athlon 64 3000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Prestonia (2002) / 130 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clawhammer (2001−2005) / 130 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon 2.66 | Athlon 64 3000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+1%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Xeon 2.66 and Athlon 64 3000+
Xeon 2.66
The Xeon 2.66 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Prestonia (2002) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 130 nm process technology. Socket: PGA604. Thermal design power (TDP): 89 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 445 points. Launch price was $800.
Athlon 64 3000+
The Athlon 64 3000+ 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: 450 points. Launch price was $65.
Processing Power
Both the Xeon 2.66 and Athlon 64 3000+ share an identical 1-core/1-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.66 GHz on the Xeon 2.66 versus 2 GHz on the Athlon 64 3000+ — a 28.3% clock advantage for the Xeon 2.66. The Xeon 2.66 uses the Prestonia (2002) architecture (130 nm), while the Athlon 64 3000+ uses Clawhammer (2001−2005) (130 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon 2.66 scores 445 against the Athlon 64 3000+'s 450 — a 1.1% lead for the Athlon 64 3000+. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Xeon 2.66 | Athlon 64 3000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.66 GHz+33% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 512K |
| Process | 130 nm | 130 nm |
| Architecture | Prestonia (2002) | Clawhammer (2001−2005) |
| PassMark | 445 | 450+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon 2.66 uses the PGA604 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 3000+ uses 754 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon 2.66 | Athlon 64 3000+ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA604 | 754 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 0 |
Value Analysis
The Xeon 2.66 launched at $337 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 3000+ debuted at $149. At current prices ($10 vs $10), the Athlon 64 3000+ is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon 2.66 delivers 44.5 pts/$ vs 45.0 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 3000+ — making the Athlon 64 3000+ the 1.1% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon 2.66 | Athlon 64 3000+ |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $337 | $149-56% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 44.5 | 45.0+1% |
| Release Date | 2002 | 2001 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Xeon 2.66 and Athlon 64 3000+
