Athlon II X2 250e vs Athlon 64 FX-60
Athlon II X2 250e
Athlon 64 FX-60
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 250e is positioned at rank 889 and the Athlon 64 FX-60 is on rank 1119, so the Athlon II X2 250e 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 250e
Performance Per Dollar Athlon 64 FX-60
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250e | Athlon 64 FX-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,000) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Toledo (2006) / 90 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250e | Athlon 64 FX-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+6550%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($1,000) |
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 250e and Athlon 64 FX-60
Athlon II X2 250e
The Athlon II X2 250e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 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: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,202 points. Launch price was $77.
Athlon 64 FX-60
The Athlon 64 FX-60 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Toledo (2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 90 nm process technology. Socket: 939. Thermal design power (TDP): 110 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,205 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 250e and Athlon 64 FX-60 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250e versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 64 FX-60 — a 14.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250e. The Athlon II X2 250e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Athlon 64 FX-60 uses Toledo (2006) (90 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250e scores 1,202 against the Athlon 64 FX-60's 1,205 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-60. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 250 vs 250, a 0% lead for the Athlon 64 FX-60 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 470 vs 480 (2.1% advantage for the Athlon 64 FX-60). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250e | Athlon 64 FX-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+15% | 2.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 45 nm-50% | 90 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Toledo (2006) |
| PassMark | 1,202 | 1,205 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 250 | 250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 470 | 480+2% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon 64 FX-60 uses 939 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 250e versus DDR-400 on the Athlon 64 FX-60 — the Athlon II X2 250e supports -203% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 250e supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 250e) and nForce4,K8T890 (Athlon 64 FX-60).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250e | Athlon 64 FX-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | 939 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR-400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+300% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Only the Athlon 64 FX-60 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250e) vs None (Athlon 64 FX-60). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop, Athlon 64 FX-60 targets Gaming/Enthusiast. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250e rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250e | Athlon 64 FX-60 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | None |
| Target Use | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop | Gaming/Enthusiast |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250e launched at $77 MSRP, while the Athlon 64 FX-60 debuted at $1031. At current prices ($15 vs $1000), the Athlon II X2 250e is $985 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250e delivers 80.1 pts/$ vs 1.2 pts/$ for the Athlon 64 FX-60 — making the Athlon II X2 250e the 194.1% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250e | Athlon 64 FX-60 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $77-93% | $1031 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-99% | $1000 |
| Performance per Dollar | 80.1+6575% | 1.2 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2006 |
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