Athlon II X2 260u vs Pentium E2200

Athlon II X2 260u vs Pentium E2200 Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X2 260u

2 / 2

990

+0.5%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Pentium E2200

985

0.0%

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 260u vs Pentium E2200 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 260u vs Pentium E2200: 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 260u

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $24 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $84 MSRP).
✅Delivers 40.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 16.5 vs 11.7 PassMark/$ ($60 MSRP vs $84 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 65W, a 40W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Pentium E2200.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Pentium E2200

2007

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (985 vs 990).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 11.7 vs 16.5 PassMark/$ ($84 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
❌160% higher power demand at 65W vs 25W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 260u.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 260u better than Pentium E2200?

Yes. Athlon II X2 260u 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, 0.5% 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, Athlon II X2 260u 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, Athlon II X2 260u is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.5% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

Athlon II X2 260u is the better buy right now. Athlon II X2 260u comes in $24 cheaper on MSRP at $60 MSRP versus $84 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 40.7% better value on MSRP (16.5 vs 11.7 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Athlon II X2 260u makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2009 vs 2007). That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X2 260u vs Pentium E2200 Technical Specifications

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

Athlon II X2 260u

The Athlon II X2 260u 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: 1.8 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: 990 points. Launch price was $83.

Pentium E2200

The Pentium E2200 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. Base frequency: 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 1 MB L2 Cache. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 985 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Athlon II X2 260u is built on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 260u scores 990 against the Pentium E2200's 985 — a 0.5% lead for the Athlon II X2 260u. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 260u vs 1 MB L2 Cache on the Pentium E2200.

Feature	Athlon II X2 260u	Pentium E2200
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	—
Boost Clock	1.8 GHz	—
Base Clock	—	2.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	1 MB L2 Cache
L2 Cache	1 MB	—
Process	45 nm-31%	65 nm
Architecture	Regor (2009−2013)	—
PassMark	990	985

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 260u uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium E2200 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Athlon II X2 260u	Pentium E2200
Socket	AM3	LGA775
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0+82%	PCIe 1.1
Max RAM Speed	1333	—
Max RAM Capacity	16	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	0	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Athlon II X2 260u) / not specified (Pentium E2200). Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 260u rivals Core 2 Duo SU9400.

Feature	Athlon II X2 260u	Pentium E2200
Integrated GPU	No	—
IGPU Model	None	—
Unlocked	No	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 260u was priced at $60, while the Pentium E2200 came in at $84. On launch pricing ($60 vs $84), Athlon II X2 260u was $24 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 260u delivers 16.5 pts/$ vs 11.7 pts/$ for the Pentium E2200 — making the Athlon II X2 260u the 33.8% better value option.

Feature	Athlon II X2 260u	Pentium E2200
MSRP	$60-29%	$84
Performance per Dollar	16.5+41%	11.7
Release Date	2009	2007

Search Athlon II X2 260u on Amazon

Search Pentium E2200 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.