CPU
GPU
Pentium Dual-Core E2200
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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 is positioned at rank 999 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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X2 250u
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($15) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (NetBurst (2000−2006) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Regor (2009−2013) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+58%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ 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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 and Athlon II X2 250u
Pentium Dual-Core E2200
The Pentium Dual-Core E2200 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: 2.2 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: 985 points. Launch price was $69.
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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 and Athlon II X2 250u share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 versus 1.6 GHz on the Athlon II X2 250u — a 31.6% clock advantage for the Pentium Dual-Core E2200. The Pentium Dual-Core E2200 uses the NetBurst (2000−2006) architecture (65 nm), while the Athlon II X2 250u uses Regor (2009−2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 scores 985 against the Athlon II X2 250u's 935 — a 5.2% lead for the Pentium Dual-Core E2200. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz+38% | 1.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (total) | 1 MB |
| Process | 65 nm | 45 nm-31% |
| Architecture | NetBurst (2000−2006) | Regor (2009−2013) |
| PassMark | 985+5% | 935 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 222 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 423 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium Dual-Core E2200 uses the LGA775 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 Pentium Dual-Core E2200 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 II X2 250u supports up to 8 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Pentium Dual-Core E2200) vs 16 (Athlon II X2 250u) — the Athlon II X2 250u offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-800 | DDR3-1066+50% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Pentium Dual-Core E2200) vs AMD-V (Athlon II X2 250u). Primary use case: Pentium Dual-Core E2200 targets Desktop, Athlon II X2 250u targets Low Power Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 250u rivals Core 2 Duo E7500.
| Feature | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Desktop | Low Power Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium Dual-Core E2200 launched at $100 MSRP, while the Athlon II X2 250u debuted at $60. At current prices ($25 vs $15), the Athlon II X2 250u is $10 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium Dual-Core E2200 delivers 39.4 pts/$ vs 62.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X2 250u — making the Athlon II X2 250u the 45.1% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium Dual-Core E2200 | Athlon II X2 250u |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $60-40% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25 | $15-40% |
| Performance per Dollar | 39.4 | 62.3+58% |
| Release Date | 2007 | 2009 |
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