Athlon II X2 245 vs Celeron N3350

AMD

Athlon II X2 245

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.9 GHz2009
VS
Intel

Celeron N3350

2 Cores2 Thrd6 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2016

Athlon II X2 245 vs Celeron N3350 Performance Spectrum

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 245 vs Celeron N3350 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 X2 245 vs Celeron N3350: 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 245

2009

Why buy it

  • βœ…Costs $41 less on MSRP ($66 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
  • βœ…Delivers 65.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 17.2 vs 10.4 PassMark/$ ($66 MSRP vs $107 MSRP).
  • βœ…Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Celeron N3350.

Trade-offs

  • ❌983.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 6W.
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while Celeron N3350 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Celeron N3350

2016

Why buy it

  • βœ…Draws 6W instead of 65W, a 59W reduction.
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (6 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 500, while Athlon II X2 245 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (1,112 vs 1,134).
  • ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 10.4 vs 17.2 PassMark/$ ($107 MSRP vs $66 MSRP).
  • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 245.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 245 better than Celeron N3350?
Yes. Athlon II X2 245 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X2 245 has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 20.8% 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 245 is the stronger fit. You are getting 2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II X2 245 is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 245 comes in $41 cheaper on MSRP at $66 MSRP versus $107 MSRP, and it still gives you 2.0% higher PassMark. It is also 65.3% better value on MSRP (17.2 vs 10.4 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron N3350 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X2 245 vs Celeron N3350 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X2 245

The Athlon II X2 245 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 23 July 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009βˆ’2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 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: 1,134 points. Launch price was $35.

Intel

Celeron N3350

The Celeron N3350 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 August 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Apollo Lake (2014βˆ’2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1296. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,112 points. Launch price was $24.

⚑

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 245 and Celeron N3350 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245 versus 2.4 GHz on the Celeron N3350 β€” a 18.9% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 245 (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.1 GHz). The Athlon II X2 245 uses the Regor (2009βˆ’2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N3350 uses Apollo Lake (2014βˆ’2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 245 scores 1,134 against the Celeron N3350's 1,112 β€” a 2% lead for the Athlon II X2 245. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon II X2 245Celeron N3350
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.9 GHz+21%
2.4 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz+164%
1.1 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
2 MB+100%
1 MB
Process
45 nm
14 nm-69%
Architecture
Regor (2009βˆ’2013)
Apollo Lake (2014βˆ’2016)
PassMark
1,134+2%
1,112
Geekbench 6 Single
β€”
250
Geekbench 6 Multi
β€”
450
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 245 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N3350 uses FCBGA1296 (PCIe 3.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 245 versus LPDDR4-2400 on the Celeron N3350 β€” the Celeron N3350 supports 80% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 245 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB β€” 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 245) vs 6 (Celeron N3350) β€” the Celeron N3350 offers 6 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 245) and SoC (Celeron N3350).

FeatureAthlon II X2 245Celeron N3350
Socket
AM3
FCBGA1296
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
1333
LPDDR4-2400+80%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB+100%
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
0
6
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 245) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Celeron N3350). The Celeron N3350 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 500), while the Athlon II X2 245 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron N3350 targets Entry Level Laptop/NUC. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 245 rivals Pentium E5500; Celeron N3350 rivals AMD A4-9120.

FeatureAthlon II X2 245Celeron N3350
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
None
Intel HD Graphics 500
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use
β€”
Entry Level Laptop/NUC
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 245 was priced at $66, while the Celeron N3350 came in at $107. On launch pricing ($66 vs $107), Athlon II X2 245 was $41 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 245 delivers 17.2 pts/$ vs 10.4 pts/$ for the Celeron N3350 β€” making the Athlon II X2 245 the 49.2% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X2 245Celeron N3350
MSRP
$66-38%
$107
Performance per Dollar
17.2+65%
10.4
Release Date
2009
2016

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