CPU
GPU
Athlon II N370
Athlon II X2 250
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 II N370 is positioned at rank 923 and the Athlon II X2 250 is on rank 955, so the Athlon II N370 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II N370
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II N370 | Athlon II X2 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Champlain (2010−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II N370 | Athlon II X2 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+51%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($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 II N370 and Athlon II X2 250
Athlon II N370
The Athlon II N370 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: 2.5 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: 1,085 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II X2 250
The Athlon II X2 250 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2 June 2009 (16 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: 2 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,080 points. Launch price was $39.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II N370 and Athlon II X2 250 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Athlon II N370 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250. The Athlon II N370 uses the Champlain (2010−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon II X2 250 uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II N370 scores 1,085 against the Athlon II X2 250's 1,080 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II N370.
| Feature | Athlon II N370 | Athlon II X2 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz | 3 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | — | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Champlain (2010−2011) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,085 | 1,080 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 220 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 420 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II N370 uses the S1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 250 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II N370 versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 250 — the Athlon II X2 250 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 250 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: RS880M,SB850 (Athlon II N370) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 250).
| Feature | Athlon II N370 | Athlon II X2 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 1333+44333% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+52428700% | 16 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II N370) vs true (Athlon II X2 250). Primary use case: Athlon II N370 targets Legacy Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II N370 rivals Pentium P6100; Athlon II X2 250 rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon II N370 | Athlon II X2 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Legacy Laptop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II N370 launched at $60 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 250 debuted at $87. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Athlon II N370 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II N370 delivers 108.5 pts/$ vs 72.0 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250 — making the Athlon II N370 the 40.4% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II N370 | Athlon II X2 250 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-31% | $87 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 108.5+51% | 72.0 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2009 |
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