Athlon II X4 600e vs E2-9000

AMD

Athlon II X4 600e

4 Cores4 Thrd45 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2009
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

E2-9000

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.2 GHz2016
Similar parts
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Athlon II X4 600e vs E2-9000 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 X4 600e vs E2-9000 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 X4 600e vs E2-9000: 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 X4 600e

2009

Why buy it

  • +0.4% higher PassMark.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike E2-9000.

Trade-offs

  • Launch MSRP is still $100 MSRP, while E2-9000 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 4400% higher power demand at 45W vs 1W.

E2-9000

2016

Why buy it

  • Draws 1W instead of 45W, a 44W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,787 vs 1,795).
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 600e.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon II X4 600e better than E2-9000?
Yes. Athlon II X4 600e 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 and 0.4% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
For gaming, this matchup is basically a tie in the data we have.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon II X4 600e is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.4% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon II X4 600e is the better buy right now. Athlon II X4 600e comes in at an unclear MSRP at $100 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (17.9 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
E2-9000 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2009). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon II X4 600e vs E2-9000 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon II X4 600e

The Athlon II X4 600e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 20 October 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,795 points. Launch price was $130.

AMD

E2-9000

The E2-9000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,787 points. Launch price was $50.

Processing Power

The Athlon II X4 600e packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the E2-9000 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Athlon II X4 600e has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Athlon II X4 600e versus 2.2 GHz on the E2-9000 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.2 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The Athlon II X4 600e uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the E2-9000 uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 600e scores 1,795 against the E2-9000's 1,787 — a 0.4% lead for the Athlon II X4 600e.

FeatureAthlon II X4 600eE2-9000
Cores / Threads
4 / 4+100%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.2 GHz
2.2 GHz
Base Clock
2.2 GHz+22%
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
1 MB+100%
Process
45 nm
28 nm-38%
Architecture
Propus (2009−2011)
Stoney Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark
1,795
1,787
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon II X4 600e uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the E2-9000 uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon II X4 600eE2-9000
Socket
AM3
BGA
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1333
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
16
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 600e) / not specified (E2-9000).

FeatureAthlon II X4 600eE2-9000
Integrated GPU
No
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V