CPU
GPU
Athlon II X2 255
Athlon II X2 250e
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 255 is positioned at rank 793 and the Athlon II X2 250e is on rank 889, so the Athlon II X2 255 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 255
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X2 255 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X2 255 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+51%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) |
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 255 and Athlon II X2 250e
Athlon II X2 255
The Athlon II X2 255 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $60.
Athlon II X2 250e
The Athlon II X2 250e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,202 points. Launch price was $77.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon II X2 255 and Athlon II X2 250e share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X2 255 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250e — a 3.3% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 255 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3 GHz). Both are built on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture using a 45 nm process. In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 255 scores 1,210 against the Athlon II X2 250e's 1,202 — a 0.7% lead for the Athlon II X2 255. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 265 vs 250, a 5.8% lead for the Athlon II X2 255 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 500 vs 470 (6.2% advantage for the Athlon II X2 255). Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 255 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.1 GHz+3% | 3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz+3% | 3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Regor (2009−2013) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,210 | 1,202 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 265+6% | 250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 500+6% | 470 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM3 socket with PCIe 2.0. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: 760G,780G,785G,790GX,870,880G,890GX,890FX (Athlon II X2 255) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 250e).
| Feature | Athlon II X2 255 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AMD-V virtualization. Primary use case: Athlon II X2 255 targets Legacy Desktop, Athlon II X2 250e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 255 rivals Pentium E5700; Athlon II X2 250e rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 255 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Desktop | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II X2 255 launched at $60 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 250e debuted at $77. At current prices ($10 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 255 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 255 delivers 121.0 pts/$ vs 80.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250e — making the Athlon II X2 255 the 40.6% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II X2 255 | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $60-22% | $77 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-33% | $15 |
| Performance per Dollar | 121.0+51% | 80.1 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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