Athlon II X2 250u vs Pentium Dual-Core E2200

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X2 250u

2 Cores2 Thrd25 WWMax: 1.6 GHz2009

Similar parts

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Pentium Dual-Core E2200

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2007

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Athlon II X2 250u vs Pentium Dual-Core E2200 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 250u

2 / 2

935

0.0%

Athlon 64 3300+

Mobile Athlon 64 3700+

Athlon 64 FX-57

Athlon 64 X2 TK-42

Ryzen 5 5600F

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

2 / 2

985

+5.3%

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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200: 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

✅Costs $40 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Delivers 58.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 15.6 vs 9.8 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 65W, a 40W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Pentium Dual-Core E2200 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (935 vs 985).

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

2007

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +8.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 9.8 vs 15.6 PassMark/$ ($100 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌160% higher power demand at 65W vs 25W.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium Dual-Core E2200 better than Athlon II X2 250u?

Yes. Pentium Dual-Core E2200 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 8.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 5.3% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium Dual-Core E2200 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 8.5% 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, Pentium Dual-Core E2200 is the stronger fit. You are getting 5.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium Dual-Core E2200 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium Dual-Core E2200 comes in 66.7% more expensive on MSRP at $100 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 8.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X2 250u only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2009 platform. Even with 58.2% better value on paper (15.6 vs 9.8 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Athlon II X2 250u makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2007). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X2 250u vs Pentium Dual-Core E2200 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

The Pentium Dual-Core E2200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 985 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 250u and Pentium Dual-Core E2200 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250u versus 2.2 GHz on the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Pentium Dual-Core E2200. The Athlon II X2 250u uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250u scores 935 against the Pentium Dual-Core E2200's 985 — a 5.2% lead for the Pentium Dual-Core E2200. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250u	Pentium Dual-Core E2200
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.6 GHz	2.2 GHz+38%
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	1 MB (total)
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark	935	985+5%
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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 — the Athlon II X2 250u supports 33.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 250u supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X2 250u) vs 0 (Pentium Dual-Core E2200) — the Athlon II X2 250u offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250u	Pentium Dual-Core E2200
Socket	AM3	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1066+33%	DDR2-800
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB+100%	4 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u) vs VT-x (Pentium Dual-Core E2200). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250u targets Low Power Desktop, Pentium Dual-Core E2200 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250u rivals Core 2 Duo E7500.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250u	Pentium Dual-Core E2200
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x
Target Use	Low Power Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 250u was priced at $60, while the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 came in at $100. On launch pricing ($60 vs $100), Athlon II X2 250u was $40 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250u delivers 15.6 pts/$ vs 9.8 pts/$ for the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 — making the Athlon II X2 250u the 45.1% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X2 250u	Pentium Dual-Core E2200
MSRP	$60-40%	$100
Performance per Dollar	15.6+59%	9.8
Release Date	2009	2007

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