CPU
GPU
Athlon X2 BE-2300
Athlon II X2 250u
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 X2 BE-2300 is positioned at rank 1011 and the Athlon II X2 250u is on rank 891, so the Athlon II X2 250u offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon X2 BE-2300
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250u
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon X2 BE-2300 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Brisbane (2007−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon X2 BE-2300 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+451%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) | ✅ More affordable ($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 X2 BE-2300 and Athlon II X2 250u
Athlon X2 BE-2300
The Athlon X2 BE-2300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Brisbane (2007−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: AM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 905 points. Launch price was $149.
Athlon II X2 250u
The Athlon II X2 250u 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: 1.6 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: 935 points. Launch price was $35.
Processing Power
Both the Athlon X2 BE-2300 and Athlon II X2 250u share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 BE-2300 versus 1.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250u — a 17.1% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 BE-2300. The Athlon X2 BE-2300 uses the Brisbane (2007−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X2 250u uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X2 BE-2300 scores 905 against the Athlon II X2 250u's 935 — a 3.3% lead for the Athlon II X2 250u. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Athlon X2 BE-2300 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.9 GHz+19% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB+100% |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | Brisbane (2007−2008) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 905 | 935+3% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 222 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 423 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon X2 BE-2300 uses the AM2 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Athlon II X2 250u uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-800 on the Athlon X2 BE-2300 versus DDR3-1066 on the Athlon II X2 250u — the Athlon II X2 250u supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X2 BE-2300 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon X2 BE-2300) vs 16 (Athlon II X2 250u) — the Athlon II X2 250u offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD AM2 (Athlon X2 BE-2300) and 760G,785G (Athlon II X2 250u).
| Feature | Athlon X2 BE-2300 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM2 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB+100% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X2 BE-2300) / AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u). Primary use case: Athlon II X2 250u targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250u rivals Core 2 Duo E7500.
| Feature | Athlon X2 BE-2300 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Low Power Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon X2 BE-2300 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 250u debuted at $60. At current prices ($80 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 250u is $65 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon X2 BE-2300 delivers 11.3 pts/$ vs 62.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250u — making the Athlon II X2 250u the 138.6% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon X2 BE-2300 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $60-40% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $80 | $15-81% |
| Performance per Dollar | 11.3 | 62.3+451% |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2009 |
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