Athlon II X2 255 vs Pentium E6700

Athlon II X2 255 vs Pentium E6700 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 255

2 / 2

1,210

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium E6700

2 / 2

1,219

+0.7%

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 255 vs Pentium E6700 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 255 vs Pentium E6700: 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 255

2010

Why buy it

✅Costs $26 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
✅Delivers 42.3% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 20.2 vs 14.2 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $86 MSRP).
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Stock), unlike Pentium E6700.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,210 vs 1,219).

Pentium E6700

2010

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 14.2 vs 20.2 PassMark/$ ($86 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 255.

Quick Answers

So, is Pentium E6700 better than Athlon II X2 255?

Yes. Pentium E6700 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.7% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Pentium E6700 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.2% 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 E6700 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Pentium E6700 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Pentium E6700 comes in 43.3% more expensive on MSRP at $86 MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Athlon II X2 255 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 42.3% better value on paper (20.2 vs 14.2 PassMark/$), 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?

Pentium E6700 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X2 255 vs Pentium E6700 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Pentium E6700

The Pentium E6700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,219 points. Launch price was $80.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 255 and Pentium E6700 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.1 GHz on the Athlon II X2 255 versus 3.2 GHz on the Pentium E6700 — a 3.2% clock advantage for the Pentium E6700 (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Athlon II X2 255 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium E6700 uses Wolfdale (2008−2010) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 255 scores 1,210 against the Pentium E6700's 1,219 — a 0.7% lead for the Pentium E6700. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

Feature	Athlon II X2 255	Pentium E6700
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.1 GHz	3.2 GHz+3%
Base Clock	3.1 GHz	3.2 GHz+3%
L3 Cache	0 kB	0 kB
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB (total)+100%
Process	45 nm	45 nm
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	Wolfdale (2008−2010)
PassMark	1,210	1,219
Geekbench 6 Single	265	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	500	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 255 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium E6700 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X2 255 versus DDR3-1066 on the Pentium E6700 — the Athlon II X2 255 supports 25% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 255 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 0 PCIe lanes.

Feature	Athlon II X2 255	Pentium E6700
Socket	AM3	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1333+25%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	No
PCIe Lanes	0	0

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X2 255) vs VT-x (Pentium E6700). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 255 targets Legacy Desktop, Pentium E6700 targets Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 255 rivals Pentium E5700.

Feature	Athlon II X2 255	Pentium E6700
Integrated GPU	No	No
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x
Target Use	Legacy Desktop	Desktop

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 255 was priced at $60, while the Pentium E6700 came in at $86. On launch pricing ($60 vs $86), Athlon II X2 255 was $26 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 255 delivers 20.2 pts/$ vs 14.2 pts/$ for the Pentium E6700 — making the Athlon II X2 255 the 34.9% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X2 255	Pentium E6700
MSRP	$60-30%	$86
Performance per Dollar	20.2+42%	14.2
Release Date	2010	2010

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