A4-1250 vs Athlon II X2 260

CPU

GPU

A4-1250

2 Cores2 Thrd8 WWMax: 1 GHz2013

Similar parts

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Athlon II X2 260

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.2 GHz2010

Similar parts

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A4-1250 vs Athlon II X2 260 Performance Spectrum

A4-1250

2 / 2

1,258

+0.8%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X2 260

2 / 2

1,248

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

A4-1250 vs Athlon II X2 260 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A4-1250 vs Athlon II X2 260: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A4-1250

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 8W instead of 65W, a 57W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 8210, while Athlon II X2 260 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.6 vs 20.8 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 260.

Athlon II X2 260

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $40 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Delivers 65.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.8 vs 12.6 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike A4-1250.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,248 vs 1,258).
❌712.5% higher power demand at 65W vs 8W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A4-1250 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A4-1250 better than Athlon II X2 260?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X2 260 is ahead with a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A4-1250 pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A4-1250 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A4-1250 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A4-1250 comes in 66.7% more expensive on MSRP at $100 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.8% better PassMark. Athlon II X2 260 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 65.3% better value on paper (20.8 vs 12.6 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A4-1250 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A4-1250 vs Athlon II X2 260 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A4-1250

The A4-1250 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Temash (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 8 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,258 points. Launch price was $50.

Athlon II X2 260

The Athlon II X2 260 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) 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: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,248 points. Launch price was $48.

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Processing Power

Both the A4-1250 and Athlon II X2 260 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1 GHz on the A4-1250 versus 3.2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 260 — a 104.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 260. The A4-1250 uses the Temash (2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 260 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A4-1250 scores 1,258 against the Athlon II X2 260's 1,248 — a 0.8% lead for the A4-1250. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	A4-1250	Athlon II X2 260
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1 GHz	3.2 GHz+220%
Base Clock	—	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	512K (per core)+51100%	1 MB
Process	32 nm-29%	45 nm
Architecture	Temash (2013)	Regor (2009−2013)
PassMark	1,258	1,248
Geekbench 6 Single	111	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	188	—

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Memory & Platform

The A4-1250 uses the FT3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X2 260 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3L 1333 MHz memory speed. The Athlon II X2 260 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A4-1250) vs 2 (Athlon II X2 260). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-1250) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 260) — the A4-1250 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT3 (A4-1250) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 260).

Feature	A4-1250	Athlon II X2 260
Socket	FT3	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3L 1333 MHz	1333
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support true virtualization. The A4-1250 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8210), while the Athlon II X2 260 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-1250 targets Tablet. Direct competitor: A4-1250 rivals Atom Z3740; Athlon II X2 260 rivals Pentium E6700.

Feature	A4-1250	Athlon II X2 260
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	Radeon HD 8210	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	true	true
Target Use	Tablet	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the A4-1250 was priced at $100, while the Athlon II X2 260 came in at $60. On launch pricing ($100 vs $60), Athlon II X2 260 was $40 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the A4-1250 delivers 12.6 pts/$ vs 20.8 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 260 — making the Athlon II X2 260 the 49.3% better value option.

Feature	A4-1250	Athlon II X2 260
MSRP	$100	$60-40%
Performance per Dollar	12.6	20.8+65%
Release Date	2013	2010

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