A4-9120 vs Core 2 Duo E4600
A4-9120
Core 2 Duo E4600
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 A4-9120 is positioned at rank 871 and the Core 2 Duo E4600 is on rank 1006, so the A4-9120 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A4-9120
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E4600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A4-9120 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9.6) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Allendale (2006−2009) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A4-9120 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($9.6) |
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 A4-9120 and Core 2 Duo E4600
A4-9120
The A4-9120 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,222 points. Launch price was $50.
Core 2 Duo E4600
The Core 2 Duo E4600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Allendale (2006−2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,235 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the A4-9120 and Core 2 Duo E4600 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the A4-9120 versus 2.4 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E4600 — a 4.1% clock advantage for the A4-9120 (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The A4-9120 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E4600 uses Allendale (2006−2009) (65 nm). In PassMark, the A4-9120 scores 1,222 against the Core 2 Duo E4600's 1,235 — a 1.1% lead for the Core 2 Duo E4600.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+4% | 2.4 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+9% |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 28 nm-57% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Allendale (2006−2009) |
| PassMark | 1,222 | 1,235+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 350 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A4-9120 uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo E4600 uses LGA775 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A4-9120 versus DDR2-800 on the Core 2 Duo E4600 — the A4-9120 supports 66.7% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core 2 Duo E4600 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A4-9120) vs 2 (Core 2 Duo E4600). PCIe lanes: 8 (A4-9120) vs 0 (Core 2 Duo E4600) — the A4-9120 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA | LGA775 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+100% | DDR2-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A4-9120) / not specified (Core 2 Duo E4600). The A4-9120 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R3), while the Core 2 Duo E4600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-9120 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-9120 rivals Celeron N3350.
| Feature | A4-9120 | Core 2 Duo E4600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R3 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Entry Laptop | — |
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