Athlon II X2 250e vs Core i7-680UM

Athlon II X2 250e vs Core i7-680UM Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 250e

2 / 2

1,202

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-680UM

2 / 4

1,196

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 Core i7-680UM 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 Core i7-680UM: 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 Core i7-680UM.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $77 MSRP, while Core i7-680UM mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌150% higher power demand at 45W vs 18W.

Core i7-680UM

2010

Why buy it

✅Draws 18W instead of 45W, a 27W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,196 vs 1,202).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 250e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 250e better than Core i7-680UM?

Yes. Athlon II X2 250e is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.5% 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 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.7% more average FPS across 41 shared CPU game tests.

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 0.5% 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 $77 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.7% average FPS lead across 41 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (15.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Core i7-680UM is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more room to grow and a better platform outlook.

Athlon II X2 250e vs Core i7-680UM 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.

Core i7-680UM

The Core i7-680UM is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.46 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-800. Passmark benchmark score: 1,196 points. Launch price was $317.

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Processing Power

The Athlon II X2 250e packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-680UM's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250e versus 2.53 GHz on the Core i7-680UM — a 17% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250e (base: 3 GHz vs 1.46 GHz). The Athlon II X2 250e uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i7-680UM uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250e scores 1,202 against the Core i7-680UM's 1,196 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X2 250e. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250e vs 4 MB (total) on the Core i7-680UM.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250e	Core i7-680UM
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3 GHz+19%	2.53 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+105%	1.46 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB+300%	256 kB (per core)
Process	45 nm	32 nm-29%
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,202	1,196
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 Core i7-680UM uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250e	Core i7-680UM
Socket	AM3	BGA1288
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 (Core i7-680UM). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250e rivals Pentium E5700.