CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 250u
Celeron T3000
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 250u is positioned at rank 891 and the Celeron T3000 is on rank 1188, so the Athlon II X2 250u 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 250u
Performance Per Dollar Celeron T3000
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Celeron T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($54) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Celeron T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+272%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($54) |
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 250u and Celeron T3000
Athlon II X2 250u
The Athlon II X2 250u is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 935 points. Launch price was $35.
Celeron T3000
The Celeron T3000 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency: 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 905 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 250u and Celeron T3000 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. The Athlon II X2 250u is built on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250u scores 935 against the Celeron T3000's 905 — a 3.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 250u. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250u vs 1 MB L2 Cache on the Celeron T3000.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Celeron T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | — | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 1 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | — |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | — |
| PassMark | 935+3% | 905 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 222 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 423 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron T3000 uses PGA478 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Celeron T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ❌ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u) / not specified (Celeron T3000). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250u targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250u rivals Core 2 Duo E7500.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Celeron T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Low Power Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250u launched at $60 MSRP, while the Celeron T3000 debuted at $150. At current prices ($15 vs $54), the Athlon II X2 250u is $39 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250u delivers 62.3 pts/$ vs 16.8 pts/$ for the Celeron T3000 — making the Athlon II X2 250u the 115.2% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Celeron T3000 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-60% | $150 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-72% | $54 |
| Performance per Dollar | 62.3+271% | 16.8 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2009 |
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