Athlon II X2 270 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220

AMD

Athlon II X2 270

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.4 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Pentium Dual-Core E2220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2008
Similar parts
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Athlon II X2 270 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220 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 270 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220 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 270 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220: 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 270

2011

Why buy it

  • Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike Pentium Dual-Core E2220.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark per dollar, at 18.5 vs 41.6 PassMark/$ ($72 MSRP vs $32 MSRP).

Pentium Dual-Core E2220

2008

Why buy it

  • Costs $40 less on MSRP ($32 MSRP vs $72 MSRP).
  • Delivers 124.5% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 41.6 vs 18.5 PassMark/$ ($32 MSRP vs $72 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,330 vs 1,333).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 270.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X2 270 better than Pentium Dual-Core E2220?
Yes. Athlon II X2 270 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.2% 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 270 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% 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 270 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II X2 270 is still the much better call for a fresh build. Athlon II X2 270 comes in 125.0% more expensive on MSRP at $72 MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Pentium Dual-Core E2220 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2008 platform. Even with 124.5% better value on paper (41.6 vs 18.5 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA775.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon II X2 270 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2011 vs 2008) and 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 270 vs Pentium Dual-Core E2220 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X2 270

The Athlon II X2 270 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 July 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 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: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,333 points. Launch price was $100.

Intel

Pentium Dual-Core E2220

The Pentium Dual-Core E2220 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,330 points. Launch price was $69.

Processing Power

Both the Athlon II X2 270 and Pentium Dual-Core E2220 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Athlon II X2 270 versus 2.4 GHz on the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 — a 34.5% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 270. The Athlon II X2 270 uses the Regor (2009−2013) architecture (45 nm), while the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 uses NetBurst (2000−2006) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X2 270 scores 1,333 against the Pentium Dual-Core E2220's 1,330 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon II X2 270. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.

FeatureAthlon II X2 270Pentium Dual-Core E2220
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
3.4 GHz+42%
2.4 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB
1 MB (total)
Process
45 nm-31%
65 nm
Architecture
Regor (2009−2013)
NetBurst (2000−2006)
PassMark
1,333
1,330
Geekbench 6 Single
392
Geekbench 6 Multi
686
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X2 270 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 uses LGA775 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II X2 270Pentium Dual-Core E2220
Socket
AM3
LGA775
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
1333
Max RAM Capacity
16
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
0
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Athlon II X2 270) / not specified (Pentium Dual-Core E2220). Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 270 rivals Pentium E6700.

FeatureAthlon II X2 270Pentium Dual-Core E2220
Integrated GPU
No
IGPU Model
None
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
true
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the Athlon II X2 270 was priced at $72, while the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 came in at $32. On launch pricing ($72 vs $32), Pentium Dual-Core E2220 was $40 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II X2 270 delivers 18.5 pts/$ vs 41.6 pts/$ for the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 — making the Pentium Dual-Core E2220 the 76.7% better value option.

FeatureAthlon II X2 270Pentium Dual-Core E2220
MSRP
$72
$32-56%
Performance per Dollar
18.5
41.6+125%
Release Date
2011
2008

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