Athlon II X2 250u
Ryzen 7 3700X
Athlon II X2 250u vs Ryzen 7 3700X 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 Ryzen 7 3700X 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Among Us
Apex Legends
ARC Raiders
Baldur's Gate 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Athlon II X2 250u vs Ryzen 7 3700X: 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
2009Why buy it
- ✅Costs $269 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 25W instead of 65W, a 40W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 3700X across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ❌Lower PassMark (935 vs 22,430).
- ❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 15.6 vs 68.2 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
Ryzen 7 3700X
2019Why buy it
- ✅Better for gaming: +983.6% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
- ✅Delivers 337.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 68.2 vs 15.6 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
- ✅50% more PCIe lanes (24 vs 16) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
Trade-offs
- ❌448.3% HIGHER MSRP$329 MSRPvs$60 MSRP
- ❌160% higher power demand at 65W vs 25W.
Quick Answers
So, is Ryzen 7 3700X better than Athlon II X2 250u?
Which one is better for gaming?
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon II X2 250u vs Ryzen 7 3700X 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.
Ryzen 7 3700X
The Ryzen 7 3700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.4 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 22,430 points. Launch price was $329.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X2 250u packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 3700X has 6 more cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250u versus 4.4 GHz on the Ryzen 7 3700X — a 93.3% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 3700X. The Athlon II X2 250u uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 250u scores 935 against the Ryzen 7 3700X's 22,430 — a 184% lead for the Ryzen 7 3700X. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250u vs 32 MB on the Ryzen 7 3700X.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 8 / 16+300% |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz+175% |
| Base Clock | — | 3.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 512K (per core)+51100% |
| Process | 45 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-84% |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Matisse (Zen 2) (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 935 | 22,430+2299% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 222 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 423 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X2 250u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Ryzen 7 3700X uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II X2 250u versus DDR4-3200 on the Ryzen 7 3700X — the Ryzen 7 3700X supports 200.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 7 3700X supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 1500% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X2 250u) vs 24 (Ryzen 7 3700X) — the Ryzen 7 3700X offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 760G,785G (Athlon II X2 250u) and AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series,AMD 300 series (Ryzen 7 3700X).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0+100% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR4-3200+200% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | No | Yes |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 24+50% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u) / not specified (Ryzen 7 3700X). 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 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Low Power Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
At launch, the Athlon II X2 250u was priced at $60, while the Ryzen 7 3700X came in at $329. On launch pricing ($60 vs $329), Athlon II X2 250u was $269 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 250u delivers 15.6 pts/$ vs 68.2 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 3700X — making the Ryzen 7 3700X the 125.6% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 250u | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-82% | $329 |
| Performance per Dollar | 15.6 | 68.2+337% |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2019 |
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