Athlon II X2 245 vs E2-3800

AMD

Athlon II X2 245

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.9 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

E2-3800

4 Cores4 Thrd15 WWMax: 1.3 GHz2013
Similar parts
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Athlon II X2 245 vs E2-3800 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 E2-3800 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 E2-3800: 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

  • Costs $34 less on MSRP ($66 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • Delivers 51.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 17.2 vs 11.4 PassMark/$ ($66 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike E2-3800.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,134 vs 1,136).
  • 333.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 15W.
  • No integrated graphics, while E2-3800 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

E2-3800

2013

Why buy it

  • +0.2% higher PassMark.
  • Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with Radeon HD 8280, while Athlon II X2 245 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.4 vs 17.2 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $66 MSRP).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 245.

Quick Answers

So, is E2-3800 better than Athlon II X2 245?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X2 245 is ahead with 123.1% higher max boost clock. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, E2-3800 pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, E2-3800 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
E2-3800 is still the much better call for a fresh build. E2-3800 comes in 51.5% more expensive on MSRP at $100 MSRP versus $66 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.2% better PassMark. Athlon II X2 245 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 51.2% better value on paper (17.2 vs 11.4 PassMark/$), 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?
E2-3800 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 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 245 vs E2-3800 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 (2009−2013) 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.

AMD

E2-3800

The E2-3800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.3 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,136 points. Launch price was $50.

Processing Power

The Athlon II X2 245 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the E2-3800 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the E2-3800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the Athlon II X2 245 versus 1.3 GHz on the E2-3800 — a 76.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 245. The Athlon II X2 245 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the E2-3800 uses Kabini (2013−2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 245 scores 1,134 against the E2-3800's 1,136 — a 0.2% lead for the E2-3800.

FeatureAthlon II X2 245E2-3800
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock
2.9 GHz+123%
1.3 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
2 MB
2048 kB
Process
45 nm
28 nm-38%
Architecture
Regor (2009−2013)
Kabini (2013−2014)
PassMark
1,134
1,136
Geekbench 6 Single
136
Geekbench 6 Multi
389
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 245 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the E2-3800 uses FT3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 245 versus DDR3-1600 on the E2-3800 — the E2-3800 supports 20% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Athlon II X2 245) vs 1 (E2-3800). PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 245) vs 4 (E2-3800) — the E2-3800 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 245) and SoC (E2-3800).

FeatureAthlon II X2 245E2-3800
Socket
AM3
FT3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
1333
DDR3-1600+20%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
16 GB
RAM Channels
2+100%
1
ECC Support
No
Yes
PCIe Lanes
0
4
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 245) vs Yes (E2-3800). The E2-3800 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8280), while the Athlon II X2 245 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 245 rivals Pentium E5500.

FeatureAthlon II X2 245E2-3800
Integrated GPU
No
Yes
IGPU Model
None
Radeon HD 8280
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
true
Yes
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 245 was priced at $66, while the E2-3800 came in at $100. On launch pricing ($66 vs $100), Athlon II X2 245 was $34 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 245 delivers 17.2 pts/$ vs 11.4 pts/$ for the E2-3800 — making the Athlon II X2 245 the 40.8% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X2 245E2-3800
MSRP
$66-34%
$100
Performance per Dollar
17.2+51%
11.4
Release Date
2009
2013

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