Athlon II X2 250 vs Celeron G1101
Athlon II X2 250
Celeron G1101
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 Celeron G1101 is on rank 755, so the Celeron G1101 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 Celeron G1101
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Celeron G1101 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Celeron G1101 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+33%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) |
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 Celeron G1101
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.
Celeron G1101
The Celeron G1101 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 0.27 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,086 points. Launch price was $85.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 250 and Celeron G1101 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250 versus 0.27 GHz on the Celeron G1101 — a 167% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250 (base: 3 GHz vs 2.26 GHz). The Athlon II X2 250 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron G1101 uses Clarkdale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250 scores 1,080 against the Celeron G1101's 1,086 — a 0.6% lead for the Celeron G1101. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250 vs 2 MB (total) on the Celeron G1101.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Celeron G1101 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+1011% | 0.27 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+33% | 2.26 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 2 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Clarkdale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,080 | 1,086 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 450 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron G1101 uses LGA1156 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 250 versus DDR3-1066 on the Celeron G1101 — the Athlon II X2 250 supports 199.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron G1101 supports up to 16.38 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 2.3% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 250) vs 16 (Celeron G1101) — the Celeron G1101 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 250) and H55,3420 (Celeron G1101).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Celeron G1101 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA1156 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+44333% | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 16.38 GB+107347868% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II X2 250) vs VT-x (Celeron G1101). The Celeron G1101 includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics (Westmere)), while the Athlon II X2 250 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G1101 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250 rivals Pentium E5700; Celeron G1101 rivals Pentium G6950.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Celeron G1101 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics (Westmere) |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Celeron G1101 debuted at $50. At current prices ($15 vs $20), the Athlon II X2 250 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250 delivers 72.0 pts/$ vs 54.3 pts/$ for the Celeron G1101 — making the Athlon II X2 250 the 28% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Celeron G1101 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87 | $50-43% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-25% | $20 |
| Performance per Dollar | 72.0+33% | 54.3 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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