Athlon II N350 vs Athlon II X2 220

CPU

GPU

Athlon II N350

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2010

Similar parts

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Athlon II X2 220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010

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Athlon II N350 vs Athlon II X2 220 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II N350

2 / 2

1,045

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Athlon II X2 220

2 / 2

1,046

+0.1%

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.

Athlon II N350 vs Athlon II X2 220 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.

Athlon II N350 vs Athlon II X2 220: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II N350

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 1W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (210 vs 285).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (400 vs 500).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.4 vs 32.7 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $32 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 220.

Athlon II X2 220

2010

Why buy it

✅+35.7% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.
✅Costs $68 less on MSRP ($32 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Delivers 212.8% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 32.7 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($32 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Athlon II N350.

Trade-offs

❌6400% higher power demand at 65W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 220 better than Athlon II N350?

Yes. Athlon II X2 220 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 25% better Geekbench multi-core, 0.1% higher PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X2 220 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 35.7% stronger Geekbench single-core performance.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X2 220 is the stronger fit. You are getting 25% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon II X2 220 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 220 comes in $68 cheaper on MSRP at $32 MSRP versus $100 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% higher PassMark. It is also 212.8% better value on MSRP (32.7 vs 10.4 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Athlon II X2 220 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 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.

Athlon II N350 vs Athlon II X2 220 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II N350

The Athlon II N350 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: 2.4 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,045 points. Launch price was $149.

Athlon II X2 220

The Athlon II X2 220 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 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,046 points. Launch price was $32.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II N350 and Athlon II X2 220 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the Athlon II N350 versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 220. The Athlon II N350 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 220 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N350 scores 1,045 against the Athlon II X2 220's 1,046 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 220. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 210 vs 285, a 30.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 220 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 400 vs 500 (22.2% advantage for the Athlon II X2 220).

Feature	Athlon II N350	Athlon II X2 220
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	2.4 GHz	2.8 GHz+17%
Base Clock	—	2.8 GHz
L3 Cache	—	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB+100%	512 kB
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Champlain (2010−2011)	Regor (2009−2013)
PassMark	1,045	1,046
Geekbench 6 Single	210	285+36%
Geekbench 6 Multi	400	500+25%

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II N350 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 220 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II N350 versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 — the Athlon II X2 220 supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 220 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: RS880M,SB850 (Athlon II N350) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220).

Feature	Athlon II N350	Athlon II X2 220
Socket	S1	AM3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066	1333+25%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II N350) vs true (Athlon II X2 220). Primary use case: Athlon II N350 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II N350 rivals Pentium P6100; Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500.

Feature	Athlon II N350	Athlon II X2 220
Integrated GPU	No	No
IGPU Model	—	None
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	true
Target Use	Legacy Laptop	—

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II N350 was priced at $100, while the Athlon II X2 220 came in at $32. On launch pricing ($100 vs $32), Athlon II X2 220 was $68 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N350 delivers 10.4 pts/$ vs 32.7 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 220 — making the Athlon II X2 220 the 103.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II N350	Athlon II X2 220
MSRP	$100	$32-68%
Performance per Dollar	10.4	32.7+214%
Release Date	2010	2010

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