
Athlon II X2 235e vs Celeron E3200

Athlon II X2 235e

Celeron E3200
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 235e is positioned at rank 888 and the Celeron E3200 is on rank 683, so the Celeron E3200 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 235e
Performance Per Dollar Celeron E3200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 235e | Celeron E3200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 235e | Celeron E3200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+203%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($5) |
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 235e and Celeron E3200

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.

Celeron E3200
The Celeron E3200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,090 points. Launch price was $52.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 235e and Celeron E3200 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 235e versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron E3200 — a 11.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 235e (base: 2.7 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The Athlon II X2 235e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron E3200 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 235e scores 1,079 against the Celeron E3200's 1,090 — a 1% lead for the Celeron E3200. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 240 vs 340, a 34.5% lead for the Celeron E3200 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 450 vs 610 (30.2% advantage for the Celeron E3200). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 235e | Celeron E3200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.7 GHz+13% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.7 GHz+13% | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB (total) |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 1,079 | 1,090+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 240 | 340+42% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 450 | 610+36% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 235e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron E3200 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 235e versus DDR2-800 on the Celeron E3200 — the Athlon II X2 235e supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. 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 G31,G41,P45 (Celeron E3200).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 235e | Celeron E3200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 235e) vs VT-x (Celeron E3200). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 235e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop, Celeron E3200 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 235e rivals Pentium E5300; Celeron E3200 rivals Pentium E5200.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 235e | Celeron E3200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 235e launched at $69 MSRP, while the Celeron E3200 debuted at $43. At current prices ($15 vs $5), the Celeron E3200 is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 235e delivers 71.9 pts/$ vs 218.0 pts/$ for the Celeron E3200 — making the Celeron E3200 the 100.8% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 235e | Celeron E3200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $69 | $43-38% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $5-67% |
| Performance per Dollar | 71.9 | 218.0+203% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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