Athlon II X2 250 vs Core i3-350M

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X2 250

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Core i3-350M

2 Cores4 Thrd35 WWMax: 0.27 GHz2010

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Athlon II X2 250 vs Core i3-350M Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 250

2 / 2

1,080

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-350M

2 / 4

1,088

+0.7%

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 250 vs Core i3-350M 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 250 vs Core i3-350M: 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 250

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $43 less on MSRP ($87 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Delivers 48.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 12.4 vs 8.4 PassMark/$ ($87 MSRP vs $130 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Core i3-350M.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,080 vs 1,088).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-350M can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-350M

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.7% higher PassMark.
✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics, while Athlon II X2 250 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 8.4 vs 12.4 PassMark/$ ($130 MSRP vs $87 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 250.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-350M better than Athlon II X2 250?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X2 250 is ahead with a 1.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-350M pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-350M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i3-350M is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-350M comes in 49.4% more expensive on MSRP at $130 MSRP versus $87 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. Athlon II X2 250 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 48.3% better value on paper (12.4 vs 8.4 PassMark/$), 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?

Core i3-350M makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2010 vs 2009) and more multi-core headroom with 2 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 250 vs Core i3-350M Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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.

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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	256K (per core)+12700%
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

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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 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 250 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% 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+25%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
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

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Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 250 was priced at $87, while the Core i3-350M came in at $130. On launch pricing ($87 vs $130), Athlon II X2 250 was $43 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250 delivers 12.4 pts/$ vs 8.4 pts/$ for the Core i3-350M — making the Athlon II X2 250 the 38.9% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250	Core i3-350M
MSRP	$87-33%	$130
Performance per Dollar	12.4+48%	8.4
Release Date	2009	2010

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