AMD Athlon II X2 250 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E6550

Comparative analysis of AMD Athlon II X2 250 and Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

AMD Athlon II X2 250

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Athlon II X2 250

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 11 month(s) later
Around 29% higher clock speed: 3 GHz vs 2.33 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 45 nm vs 65 nm
4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 32% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1197 vs 907
Around 30% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 1160 vs 893
Around 18% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 357 vs 303
Around 22% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 642 vs 527
Around 31% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 0.343 vs 0.261
Around 16% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.089 vs 0.077

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	June 2009 vs July 2007
Maximum frequency	3 GHz vs 2.33 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm vs 65 nm
L1 cache	256 KB vs 64 KB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	1197 vs 907
PassMark - CPU mark	1160 vs 893
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	357 vs 303
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	642 vs 527
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.343 vs 0.261
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.089 vs 0.077

Reasons to consider the Intel Core 2 Duo E6550

2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
3.6x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 18.666 vs 5.142
2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s): 0.371 vs 0.184
Around 10% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 1.88 vs 1.714

Specifications (specs)
L2 cache	4096 KB vs 2048 KB
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	18.666 vs 5.142
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.371 vs 0.184
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	1.88 vs 1.714

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Athlon II X2 250
CPU 2: Intel Core 2 Duo E6550

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1197

907

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

1160

893

Geekbench 4 - Single Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

357

303

Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core

CPU 1

CPU 2

642

527

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.343

0.261

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

5.142

18.666

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.089

0.077

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

0.184

0.371

CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)

CPU 1

CPU 2

1.714

1.88

Name	AMD Athlon II X2 250	Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
PassMark - Single thread mark	1197	907
PassMark - CPU mark	1160	893
Geekbench 4 - Single Core	357	303
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core	642	527
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score	0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)	0.343	0.261
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)	5.142	18.666
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)	0.089	0.077
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s)	0.184	0.371
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)	1.714	1.88

Compare specifications (specs)

	AMD Athlon II X2 250	Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
Essentials
Architecture codename	Regor	Conroe
Launch date	June 2009	July 2007
Launch price (MSRP)	$39
Place in performance rating	3193	3206
Price now	$189.95	$14.95
Value for money (0-100)	2.70	29.56
Vertical segment	Desktop	Desktop
Processor Number		E6550
Series		Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status		Discontinued
Performance
64 bit support
Die size	117 mm	143 mm2
L1 cache	256 KB	64 KB
L2 cache	2048 KB	4096 KB
Manufacturing process technology	45 nm	65 nm
Maximum frequency	3 GHz	2.33 GHz
Number of cores	2	2
Transistor count	410 million	291 million
Base frequency		2.33 GHz
Bus Speed		1333 MHz FSB
Maximum core temperature		72°C
VID voltage range		0.8500V-1.5V
Memory
Supported memory types	DDR3	DDR1, DDR2, DDR3
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Sockets supported	AM3	PLGA775
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	65 Watt	65 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size		37.5mm x 37.5mm
Security & Reliability
Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)
Advanced Technologies
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
FSB parity
Idle States
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Thermal Monitoring
Virtualization
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)