Athlon II X2 250e vs Celeron N2806

Athlon II X2 250e vs Celeron N2806 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 250e

2 / 2

1,202

+0.6%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron N2806

2 / 2

1,195

0.0%

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 250e vs Celeron N2806 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 250e vs Celeron N2806: 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 250e

2010

Why buy it

✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Celeron N2806.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $77 MSRP, while Celeron N2806 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌1025% higher power demand at 45W vs 4W.

Celeron N2806

2013

Why buy it

✅Draws 4W instead of 45W, a 41W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,195 vs 1,202).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 250e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 250e better than Celeron N2806?

Yes. Athlon II X2 250e is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you 0.6% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon II X2 250e has the edge because it leads the single-thread side of this matchup with 50% higher max boost clock.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X2 250e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.6% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon II X2 250e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 250e comes in at an unclear MSRP at $77 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.6% higher PassMark. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (15.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Celeron N2806 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X2 250e vs Celeron N2806 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Celeron N2806

The Celeron N2806 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1170. Thermal design power (TDP): 4.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,195 points. Launch price was $107.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 250e and Celeron N2806 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250e versus 2 GHz on the Celeron N2806 — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250e (base: 3 GHz vs 1.6 GHz). The Athlon II X2 250e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron N2806 uses Bay Trail-M (2013−2014) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250e scores 1,202 against the Celeron N2806's 1,195 — a 0.6% lead for the Athlon II X2 250e. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250e	Celeron N2806
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3 GHz+50%	2 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+87%	1.6 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	512K (per core)+51100%
Process	45 nm	22 nm-51%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Bay Trail-M (2013−2014)
PassMark	1,202	1,195
Geekbench 6 Single	250	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	470	—

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 250e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron N2806 uses FCBGA1170 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250e	Celeron N2806
Socket	AM3	FCBGA1170
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250e) / not specified (Celeron N2806). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250e rivals Pentium E5700.