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Athlon II X2 235e vs Athlon II X2 250

CPUCPUGPUGPU
AMD

Athlon II X2 235e

2 Cores2 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon II X2 250

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3 GHz2009
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Athlon II X2 235e vs Athlon II X2 250 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 235e
2 / 2
1,079
0.0%
brand logoAthlon 64 3600+
brand logoAthlon 64 FX-57
brand logoAthlon 64 X2 TK-42
brand logoAthlon II X2 250u
brand logoRyzen 5 PRO 5650G
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper 3990X
Athlon II X2 250
2 / 2
1,080
+0.1%
brand logoAthlon 64 3600+
brand logoAthlon 64 FX-57
brand logoAthlon 64 X2 TK-42
brand logoAthlon II X2 250u
brand logoRyzen 5 PRO 5650G
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX
brand logoRyzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX
brand logoRyzen 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 X2 235e vs Athlon II X2 250 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Among Us

Among Us

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone

1080P
Athlon II X2 235e
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
1080P
Athlon II X2 250
low27 FPS
medium27 FPS
high27 FPS
ultra27 FPS
Check FPS with Custom Builds

Athlon II X2 235e vs Athlon II X2 250: 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 X2 235e

2009

Why buy it

  • ✅Costs $18 less on MSRP ($69 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
  • ✅Delivers 26.0% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.6 vs 12.4 PassMark/$ ($69 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
  • ✅Draws 45W instead of 65W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (1,079 vs 1,080).

Athlon II X2 250

2009

Why buy it

    Trade-offs

    • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 15.6 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $69 MSRP).
    • ❌44.4% higher power demand at 65W vs 45W.

    Quick Answers

    So, is Athlon II X2 250 better than Athlon II X2 235e?
    Yes. Athlon II X2 250 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 0.1% better 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 250 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 11.1% higher max boost clock.
    Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
    For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X2 250 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
    Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
    Athlon II X2 250 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon II X2 250 comes in 26.1% more expensive on MSRP at $87 MSRP versus $69 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.1% higher PassMark. Athlon II X2 235e only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 26.0% better value on paper (15.6 vs 12.4 PassMark/$), 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?
    Athlon II X2 250 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 X2 235e vs Athlon II X2 250 Technical Specifications

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

    AMD

    Athlon II X2 235e

    The Athlon II X2 235e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 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: 1,079 points. Launch price was $84.

    AMD

    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 X2 235e and Athlon II X2 250 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 235e versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 3 GHz). Both are built on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 235e scores 1,079 against the Athlon II X2 250's 1,080 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 250. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

    FeatureAthlon II X2 235eAthlon II X2 250
    Cores / Threads
    2 / 2
    2 / 2
    Boost Clock
    2.7 GHz
    3 GHz+11%
    Base Clock
    2.7 GHz
    3 GHz+11%
    L3 Cache
    0 kB
    0 kB
    L2 Cache
    1 MB
    2 MB+100%
    Process
    45 nm
    45 nm
    Architecture
    Regor (2009−2013)
    Regor (2009−2013)
    PassMark
    1,079
    1,080
    Geekbench 6 Single
    240
    —
    Geekbench 6 Multi
    450
    —
    🧠

    Memory & Platform

    Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 235e) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 250).

    FeatureAthlon II X2 235eAthlon II X2 250
    Socket
    AM3
    AM3
    PCIe Generation
    PCIe 2.0
    PCIe 2.0
    Max RAM Speed
    DDR3-1333
    1333
    Max RAM Capacity
    16 GB
    16 GB
    RAM Channels
    2
    2
    ECC Support
    Yes
    No
    PCIe Lanes
    0
    0
    🔧

    Advanced Features

    Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 235e) vs true (Athlon II X2 250). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 235e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 235e rivals Pentium E5300; Athlon II X2 250 rivals Pentium E5700.

    FeatureAthlon II X2 235eAthlon II X2 250
    Integrated GPU
    No
    No
    IGPU Model
    —
    None
    Unlocked
    No
    No
    AVX-512
    No
    No
    Virtualization
    AMD-V
    true
    Target Use
    Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop
    —
    💰

    Value Analysis

    At launch, the Athlon II X2 235e was priced at $69, while the Athlon II X2 250 came in at $87. On launch pricing ($69 vs $87), Athlon II X2 235e was $18 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 235e delivers 15.6 pts/$ vs 12.4 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250 — making the Athlon II X2 235e the 23% better value option.

    FeatureAthlon II X2 235eAthlon II X2 250
    MSRP
    $69-21%
    $87
    Performance per Dollar
    15.6+26%
    12.4
    Release Date
    2009
    2009
    Search Athlon II X2 235e on AmazonSearch Athlon II X2 250 on Amazon

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