A12-9800 vs Core i3-6100T

A12-9800 vs Core i3-6100T Performance Spectrum

A12-9800

4 / 4

3,695

+1.5%

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-6100T

2 / 4

3,641

0.0%

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.

A12-9800 vs Core i3-6100T FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

A12-9800 vs Core i3-6100T: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

A12-9800

2017

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +9.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.

Core i3-6100T

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than A12-9800 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,641 vs 3,695).
❌Launch MSRP is still $117 MSRP, while A12-9800 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is A12-9800 better than Core i3-6100T?

Yes. A12-9800 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 9.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.5% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A12-9800 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 9.4% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A12-9800 is the stronger fit. You are getting 1.5% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A12-9800 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A12-9800 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $117 MSRP, and it still gives you a 9.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-6100T only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (31.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on LGA1151.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A12-9800 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A12-9800 vs Core i3-6100T Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

A12-9800

The A12-9800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,695 points. Launch price was $139.

Core i3-6100T

The Core i3-6100T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,641 points. Launch price was $117.

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Processing Power

The A12-9800 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6100T offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.2 GHz on the A12-9800 versus 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-6100T — a 27% clock advantage for the A12-9800 (base: 3.8 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The A12-9800 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-6100T uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A12-9800 scores 3,695 against the Core i3-6100T's 3,641 — a 1.5% lead for the A12-9800. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 635 vs 1,041, a 48.4% lead for the Core i3-6100T that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A12-9800 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6100T.

Feature	A12-9800	Core i3-6100T
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	4.2 GHz+31%	3.2 GHz
Base Clock	3.8 GHz+19%	3.2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	3 MB
L2 Cache	2048 kB+300%	512 kB
Process	28 nm	14 nm-50%
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	3,695+1%	3,641
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	2,500
Geekbench 6 Single	635	1,041+64%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	2,071

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Memory & Platform

The A12-9800 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-6100T uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the A12-9800 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6100T — the A12-9800 supports 12.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A12-9800) vs 16 (Core i3-6100T) — the Core i3-6100T offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800) and H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Core i3-6100T).

Feature	A12-9800	Core i3-6100T
Socket	AM4	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2400+13%	DDR4-2133
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB	64 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A12-9800) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-6100T). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 (A12-9800) and HD Graphics 530 (Core i3-6100T) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800 targets Budget, Core i3-6100T targets Budget. Direct competitor: A12-9800 rivals Pentium G4600.