Core i5-430M vs Athlon II X2 250e
Core i5-430M
Athlon II X2 250e
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 Core i5-430M is positioned at rank 12 and the Athlon II X2 250e is on rank 889, so the Core i5-430M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-430M
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-430M | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-430M | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+119%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($33) | ✅ 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 Core i5-430M and Athlon II X2 250e
Core i5-430M
The Core i5-430M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,210 points. Launch price was $79.
Athlon II X2 250e
The Athlon II X2 250e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,202 points. Launch price was $77.
Processing Power
The Core i5-430M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the Athlon II X2 250e's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Core i5-430M versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250e — a 17% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 250e (base: 2.26 GHz vs 3 GHz). The Core i5-430M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X2 250e uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-430M scores 1,210 against the Athlon II X2 250e's 1,202 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i5-430M. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 350 vs 250, a 33.3% lead for the Core i5-430M that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 750 vs 470 (45.9% advantage for the Core i5-430M). L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Core i5-430M vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X2 250e.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz | 3 GHz+19% |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | 3 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,210 | 1,202 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350+40% | 250 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 750+60% | 470 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-430M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X2 250e uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The Athlon II X2 250e 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: 16 (Core i5-430M) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 250e) — the Core i5-430M offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55 (Core i5-430M) and 760G,780G,785G,790GX (Athlon II X2 250e).
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-430M) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250e). The Core i5-430M includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics), while the Athlon II X2 250e requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-430M targets Performance Laptop, Athlon II X2 250e targets Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop. Direct competitor: Core i5-430M rivals AMD Turion II M620; Athlon II X2 250e rivals Pentium E5700.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d, EPT | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Performance Laptop | Energy Efficient Legacy Desktop |
Value Analysis
At current prices ($33 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 250e is $18 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-430M delivers 36.7 pts/$ vs 80.1 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250e — making the Athlon II X2 250e the 74.4% better value option.
| Feature | Core i5-430M | Athlon II X2 250e |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $77 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $33 | $15-55% |
| Performance per Dollar | 36.7 | 80.1+118% |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2010 |
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