CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 250u
Core 2 Duo E7200
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 Core 2 Duo E7200 is on rank 1040, 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 Core 2 Duo E7200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Core 2 Duo E7200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($133) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Core 2 Duo E7200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+727%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($133) |
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.
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X2 250u and Core 2 Duo E7200
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.
Core 2 Duo E7200
The Core 2 Duo E7200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.53 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 3 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,002 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 250u and Core 2 Duo E7200 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250u versus 2.53 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E7200 — a 45% clock advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7200. The Athlon II X2 250u uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E7200 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250u scores 935 against the Core 2 Duo E7200's 1,002 — a 6.9% lead for the Core 2 Duo E7200. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 222 vs 368, a 49.5% lead for the Core 2 Duo E7200 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 423 vs 666 (44.6% advantage for the Core 2 Duo E7200). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Core 2 Duo E7200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 2.53 GHz+58% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.53 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 3 MB (total)+200% |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Wolfdale (2008−2010) |
| PassMark | 935 | 1,002+7% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 222 | 368+66% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 423 | 666+57% |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core 2 Duo E7200 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II X2 250u versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo E7200 — the Athlon II X2 250u supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G (Athlon II X2 250u) and P35,G33,G41,P45 (Core 2 Duo E7200).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Core 2 Duo E7200 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the Core 2 Duo E7200 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u) vs VT-x (Core 2 Duo E7200). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250u targets Low Power Desktop, Core 2 Duo E7200 targets Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250u rivals Core 2 Duo E7500; Core 2 Duo E7200 rivals Athlon II X2 245.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Core 2 Duo E7200 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Low Power Desktop | Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250u launched at $60 MSRP, while the Core 2 Duo E7200 debuted at $133. At current prices ($15 vs $133), the Athlon II X2 250u is $118 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250u delivers 62.3 pts/$ vs 7.5 pts/$ for the Core 2 Duo E7200 — making the Athlon II X2 250u the 156.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Core 2 Duo E7200 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-55% | $133 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-89% | $133 |
| Performance per Dollar | 62.3+731% | 7.5 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2008 |
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