Athlon II X2 250 vs Athlon II X2 235e
Athlon II X2 250
Athlon II X2 235e
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 250 is positioned at rank 955 and the Athlon II X2 235e is on rank 888, so the Athlon II X2 235e 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 250
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 235e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower 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 250 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| 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 250 and Athlon II X2 235e
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.
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.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 250 and Athlon II X2 235e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250 versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X2 235e — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). Both are built on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250 scores 1,080 against the Athlon II X2 235e's 1,079 — a 0.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 250. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+11% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+11% | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,080 | 1,079 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 240 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 450 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 250 versus DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 235e — the Athlon II X2 250 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. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 250) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 235e).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 250) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 235e). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 235e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250 rivals Pentium E5700; Athlon II X2 235e rivals Pentium E5300.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 235e debuted at $69. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 235e is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250 delivers 72.0 pts/$ vs 71.9 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 235e — making the Athlon II X2 250 the 0.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Athlon II X2 235e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87 | $69-21% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 72.0 | 71.9 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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