Athlon II X2 250 vs Atom E3845
Athlon II X2 250
Atom E3845
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 Atom E3845 is on rank 764, so the Atom E3845 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 Atom E3845
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Atom E3845 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Bay Trail-I (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Atom E3845 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Atom E3845
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.
Atom E3845
The Atom E3845 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 October 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-I (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.91 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,071 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 250 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Atom E3845 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Atom E3845 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250 versus 1.91 GHz on the Atom E3845 — a 44.4% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250. The Athlon II X2 250 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Atom E3845 uses Bay Trail-I (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250 scores 1,080 against the Atom E3845's 1,071 — a 0.8% lead for the Athlon II X2 250. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Atom E3845 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+57% | 1.91 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 22 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Bay Trail-I (2013) |
| PassMark | 1,080 | 1,071 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Atom E3845 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 250 versus DDR3L-1333 on the Atom E3845 — the Athlon II X2 250 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 250 supports up to 16 of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 250) vs 4 (Atom E3845) — the Atom E3845 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 250) and Intel FCBGA1170 (Atom E3845).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Atom E3845 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | FCBGA1170 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+44333% | DDR3L-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 8 GB+52428700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Athlon II X2 250) / not specified (Atom E3845). The Atom E3845 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail)), while the Athlon II X2 250 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250 rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Atom E3845 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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