Athlon II X2 250 vs Ryzen 7 3700X
Athlon II X2 250
Ryzen 7 3700X
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. The Athlon II X2 250 is positioned at rank #955 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 7 3700X
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+123%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($140) |
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 Ryzen 7 3700X
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.
Ryzen 7 3700X
The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 250 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250 versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 37.8% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Athlon II X2 250 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250 scores 1,080 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 181.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250 vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 8 / 16+300% |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz | 4.4 GHz+47% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+300% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 1,080 | 22,430+1977% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1333 on the Athlon II X2 250 versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Athlon II X2 250 supports 198.8% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 16 — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II X2 250) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 24 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 250) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1333+33225% | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 128 GB+838860700% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 24 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Athlon II X2 250) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250 rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250 launched at $87 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 3700X debuted at $329. At current prices ($15 vs $140), the Athlon II X2 250 is $125 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250 delivers 72.0 pts/$ vs 160.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 76% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $87-74% | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-89% | $140 |
| Performance per Dollar | 72.0 | 160.2+122% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2019 |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Athlon II X2 250 and Ryzen 7 3700X
