Athlon II X2 220 vs Athlon II X2 270u
Athlon II X2 220
Athlon II X2 270u
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 X2 220 is positioned at rank 561 and the Athlon II X2 270u is on rank 897, so the Athlon II X2 220 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 X2 220
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 270u
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 220 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 220 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| 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 Athlon II X2 220 and Athlon II X2 270u
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.
Athlon II X2 270u
The Athlon II X2 270u 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. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,045 points. Launch price was $68.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 220 and Athlon II X2 270u share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 versus 2 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270u — a 33.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 220. Both are built on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 220 scores 1,046 against the Athlon II X2 270u's 1,045 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 220. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 285 vs 300, a 5.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 270u that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 550 (9.5% advantage for the Athlon II X2 270u). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz+40% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,046 | 1,045 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 531 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 285 | 300+5% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 500 | 550+10% |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 270u — the Athlon II X2 220 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 220) vs 16 (Athlon II X2 270u) — the Athlon II X2 270u offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220) and AMD 760G,AMD 880G,AMD 970 (Athlon II X2 270u).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+44333% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 16 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 220) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 270u). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 270u targets Office/Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500; Athlon II X2 270u rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | None |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Office/Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 220 launched at $32 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 270u debuted at $68. At current prices ($10 vs $10), the Athlon II X2 270u is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 220 delivers 104.6 pts/$ vs 104.5 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 270u — making the Athlon II X2 220 the 0.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 220 | Athlon II X2 270u |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $32-53% | $68 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10 | $10 |
| Performance per Dollar | 104.6 | 104.5 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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