Athlon II X2 250 vs Core i3-350M
Athlon II X2 250
Core i3-350M
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 Core i3-350M is on rank 17, so the Core i3-350M 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 Core i3-350M
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+51%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 Core i3-350M
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.
Core i3-350M
The Core i3-350M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 0.27 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,088 points. Launch price was $130.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 250 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-350M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250 versus 0.27 GHz on the Core i3-350M — 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 Core i3-350M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250 scores 1,080 against the Core i3-350M's 1,088 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-350M. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-350M.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+1011% | 0.27 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+33% | 2.26 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,080 | 1,088 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 280 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 650 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-350M uses PGA988 (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 Core i3-350M — 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 16 (Core i3-350M) — the Core i3-350M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 250) and HM55,HM57 (Core i3-350M).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | PGA988 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+44333% | DDR3-1066 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 8 GB+52428700% |
| 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, VT-d, EPT (Core i3-350M). The Core i3-350M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X2 250 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-350M targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250 rivals Pentium E5700; Core i3-350M rivals AMD Athlon II P320.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Intel HD Graphics |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Entry Laptop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Core i3-350M debuted at $130. At current prices ($15 vs $10), the Core i3-350M is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250 delivers 72.0 pts/$ vs 108.8 pts/$ for the Core i3-350M — making the Core i3-350M the 40.7% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Core i3-350M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87-33% | $130 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $10-33% |
| Performance per Dollar | 72.0 | 108.8+51% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2010 |
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