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AMD Athlon 255e vs AMD Athlon 631: Comparison
Athlon 255e vs Athlon 631: the total cores difference
These two are close on paper, and total cores is the only measure that separates them at all: Athlon 255e 2 against Athlon 631 4. Performance cores is closer, 2 on the Athlon 255e versus 4 on the Athlon 631. Total threads is closer, 2 on the Athlon 255e versus 4 on the Athlon 631. P-core base clock is not the same on both, 3.1 GHz on the Athlon 255e versus 2.6 GHz on the Athlon 631. Add l2 cache to that, 2 MB on the Athlon 255e versus 4 MB on the Athlon 631, and the pattern holds. They differ on tdp too, 45 W on the Athlon 255e versus 65 W on the Athlon 631. Socket is not the same on both, AM3 on the Athlon 255e versus FM1 uPGA on the Athlon 631. There is a split on base power as well, 45 W on the Athlon 255e versus 65 W on the Athlon 631. They differ on memory type too, DDR3 on the Athlon 255e versus Not Listed on the Athlon 631.
Which should you buy, Athlon 255e or Athlon 631?
Buy the Athlon 255e for Athlon platform upgrades or repairs and budget legacy builds, though it is not the pick for modern gaming or productivity workloads and new builds. The Athlon 631 suits Athlon platform upgrades or repairs and budget legacy builds, though it is not built for modern gaming or productivity workloads and new builds.
What Athlon 255e and Athlon 631 have in common
Everything else lines up. Efficiency cores, integrated graphics, socket status, product line and form factor read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 4 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Athlon 255e and Athlon 631 differ on retail availability?
Yes. Retail Availability reads Tray OEM on the Athlon 255e versus Boxed Retail on the Athlon 631.
Is the iGPU the same on the Athlon 255e and Athlon 631?
It is. Both are listed at Discrete Graphics Card Required, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AMD Athlon 255e
- AMD
- AMD Athlon 631
- AMD
Product Line
- AMD Athlon 255e
- Other
- AMD Athlon 631
- Other
Form Factor
- AMD Athlon 255e
- Desktop
- AMD Athlon 631
- Desktop
Codename
- AMD Athlon 255e
- Athlon Legacy
- AMD Athlon 631
- Athlon Legacy
TDP
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 45 W
- AMD Athlon 631
- 65 W
iGPU
- AMD Athlon 255e
- Discrete Graphics Card Required
- AMD Athlon 631
- Discrete Graphics Card Required
Market Segment
- AMD Athlon 255e
- Desktop
- AMD Athlon 631
- Desktop
Socket
- AMD Athlon 255e
- AM3
- AMD Athlon 631
- FM1 uPGA
Socket Status
- AMD Athlon 255e
- End of Life
- AMD Athlon 631
- End of Life
Process Node
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 45nm
- AMD Athlon 631
- 32nm
Total Cores
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 2
- AMD Athlon 631
- 4Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 2
- AMD Athlon 631
- 4Best
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 0
- AMD Athlon 631
- 0
Total Threads
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 2
- AMD Athlon 631
- 4Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Athlon 255e
- No
- AMD Athlon 631
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 3.1 GHz
- AMD Athlon 631
- 2.6 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Athlon 255e
- No
- AMD Athlon 631
- No
L2 Cache
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 2 MB-50%
- AMD Athlon 631
- 4 MBBest
Base Power
- AMD Athlon 255e
- 45 W
- AMD Athlon 631
- 65 W
Memory Type
- AMD Athlon 255e
- DDR3
- AMD Athlon 631
- Not Listed
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Athlon 255e
- No
- AMD Athlon 631
- No
Retail Availability
- AMD Athlon 255e
- Tray OEM
- AMD Athlon 631
- Boxed Retail
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Athlon 255e if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose AMD Athlon 631 if you want the higher L2 cache (4 MB vs 2 MB).