
Athlon II X2 250u

Pentium Dual-Core E2200
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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 is on rank 999, 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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+58%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($15) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200

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.
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 | — |
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 40% 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 — 66.7% 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+50% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+100% | 4 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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
The Athlon II X2 250u launched at $60 MSRP, while the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 debuted at $100. At current prices ($15 vs $25), the Athlon II X2 250u is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250u delivers 62.3 pts/$ vs 39.4 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 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-40% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 62.3+58% | 39.4 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2007 |
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