Athlon 64 FX-60 vs Athlon II X2 250e
Athlon 64 FX-60
Athlon II X2 250e
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 Athlon 64 FX-60 is positioned at rank 1119 and the Athlon II X2 250e is on rank 889, so the Athlon II X2 250e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-60
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-60 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,000) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Toledo (2006) / 90 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon 64 FX-60 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+6550%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,000) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
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 Athlon 64 FX-60 and Athlon II X2 250e
Athlon 64 FX-60
The Athlon 64 FX-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toledo (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 110 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,205 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II X2 250e
The Athlon II X2 250e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,202 points. Launch price was $77.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon 64 FX-60 and Athlon II X2 250e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-60 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250e — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250e. The Athlon 64 FX-60 uses the Toledo (2006) architecture (90 nm), while the Athlon II X2 250e uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon 64 FX-60 scores 1,205 against the Athlon II X2 250e's 1,202 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-60. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 250 vs 250, a 0% lead for the Athlon II X2 250e that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 480 vs 470 (2.1% advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-60). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-60 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3 GHz+15% |
| Base Clock | — | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 90 nm | 45 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Toledo (2006) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,205 | 1,202 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 250 | 250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 480+2% | 470 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon 64 FX-60 uses the 939 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 250e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 FX-60 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 250e — the Athlon II X2 250e supports -203% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 250e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: nForce4,K8T890 (Athlon 64 FX-60) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 250e).
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-60 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | 939 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR-400 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 16 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon 64 FX-60 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: None (Athlon 64 FX-60) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250e). Primary use case: Athlon 64 FX-60 targets Gaming/Enthusiast, Athlon II X2 250e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250e rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-60 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | None | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Gaming/Enthusiast | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon 64 FX-60 launched at $1031 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 250e debuted at $77. At current prices ($1000 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 250e is $985 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon 64 FX-60 delivers 1.2 pts/$ vs 80.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250e — making the Athlon II X2 250e the 194.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon 64 FX-60 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1031 | $77-93% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $1000 | $15-99% |
| Performance per Dollar | 1.2 | 80.1+6575% |
| Release Date | 2006 | 2010 |
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