CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 250u
Pentium E2180
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 E2180 is on rank 976, 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 E2180
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Pentium E2180 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 250u | Pentium E2180 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+0%) |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 E2180
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 E2180
The Pentium E2180 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. Base frequency: 2 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 938 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 250u is built on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250u scores 935 against the Pentium E2180's 938 — a 0.3% lead for the Pentium E2180. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250u vs 1 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium E2180.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Pentium E2180 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | — |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | — |
| Base Clock | — | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 1 MB L2 Cache |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | — |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | — |
| PassMark | 935 | 938 |
| 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 E2180 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 800 on the Pentium E2180 — the Pentium E2180 supports 198.5% 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.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Pentium E2180 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | 800+26567% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB+104857500% | 8 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u) vs false (Pentium E2180). 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 | Pentium E2180 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | false |
| Target Use | Low Power Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 250u launched at $60 MSRP, while the Pentium E2180 debuted at $84. At current prices ($15 vs $15), the Pentium E2180 is $0 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250u delivers 62.3 pts/$ vs 62.5 pts/$ for the Pentium E2180 — making the Pentium E2180 the 0.3% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Pentium E2180 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-29% | $84 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15 | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 62.3 | 62.5 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2007 |
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