Athlon II X2 250u vs E2-2000

AMD

Athlon II X2 250u

2 Cores2 Thrd25 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

E2-2000

2 Cores2 Thrd18 WWMax: 1.75 GHz2013
Similar parts
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Athlon II X2 250u vs E2-2000 Performance Spectrum

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 250u vs E2-2000 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 250u vs E2-2000: 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 250u

2009

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +4.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while E2-2000 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 38.9% higher power demand at 25W vs 18W.

E2-2000

2013

Why buy it

  • Draws 18W instead of 25W, a 7W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X2 250u across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (880 vs 935).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 250u better than E2-2000?
Yes. Athlon II X2 250u is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 6.3% 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 250u is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.5% more average FPS across 50 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 250u is the stronger fit. You are getting 6.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II X2 250u is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 250u comes in at an unclear MSRP at $60 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (15.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
E2-2000 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2013 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X2 250u vs E2-2000 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

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.

AMD

E2-2000

The E2-2000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Zacate (2011−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.75 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 40 nm process technology. Socket: FT1. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 880 points. Launch price was $50.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 250u and E2-2000 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250u versus 1.75 GHz on the E2-2000 — a 9% clock advantage for the E2-2000. The Athlon II X2 250u uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the E2-2000 uses Zacate (2011−2013) (40 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250u scores 935 against the E2-2000's 880 — a 6.1% lead for the Athlon II X2 250u. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon II X2 250uE2-2000
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
1.6 GHz
1.75 GHz+9%
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB
512K (per core)+51100%
Process
45 nm
40 nm-11%
Architecture
Regor (2009−2013)
Zacate (2011−2013)
PassMark
935+6%
880
Geekbench 6 Single
222
Geekbench 6 Multi
423
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 250u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the E2-2000 uses FT1 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II X2 250uE2-2000
Socket
AM3
FT1
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u) / not specified (E2-2000). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250u targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250u rivals Core 2 Duo E7500.

FeatureAthlon II X2 250uE2-2000
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Low Power Desktop