A6-3500 vs Celeron 3867U

AMD

A6-3500

3 Cores3 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.4 GHz2011
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Celeron 3867U

2 Cores2 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2019
Similar parts
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A6-3500 vs Celeron 3867U Performance Spectrum

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.

A6-3500 vs Celeron 3867U 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.

A6-3500 vs Celeron 3867U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A6-3500

2011

Why buy it

  • Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.
  • 33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Celeron 3867U.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,439 vs 1,449).

Celeron 3867U

2019

Why buy it

  • +0.7% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

  • 687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.
  • No boxed cooler included, unlike A6-3500.

Quick Answers

So, is Celeron 3867U better than A6-3500?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A6-3500 is ahead with a 2.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 3867U pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Celeron 3867U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Celeron 3867U still makes the most sense overall. Celeron 3867U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Celeron 3867U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 3/3. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A6-3500 vs Celeron 3867U Technical Specifications

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

AMD

A6-3500

The A6-3500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,439 points. Launch price was $70.

Intel

Celeron 3867U

The Celeron 3867U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 March 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,449 points. Launch price was $107.

Processing Power

The A6-3500 packs 3 cores / 3 threads, while the Celeron 3867U offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the A6-3500 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the A6-3500 versus 1.8 GHz on the Celeron 3867U — a 28.6% clock advantage for the A6-3500 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The A6-3500 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Celeron 3867U uses Kaby Lake (2016−2019) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A6-3500 scores 1,439 against the Celeron 3867U's 1,449 — a 0.7% lead for the Celeron 3867U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A6-3500 vs 2 MB on the Celeron 3867U.

FeatureA6-3500Celeron 3867U
Cores / Threads
3 / 3+50%
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.4 GHz+33%
1.8 GHz
Base Clock
2.1 GHz+17%
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
2 MB
L2 Cache
1 MB (per core)+100%
512 kB
Process
32 nm
14 nm-56%
Architecture
Llano (2011−2012)
Kaby Lake (2016−2019)
PassMark
1,439
1,449
Geekbench 6 Single
265
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Memory & Platform

The A6-3500 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron 3867U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1866 on the A6-3500 versus DDR4-2133 on the Celeron 3867U — the Celeron 3867U supports 14.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Celeron 3867U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A6-3500) vs 12 (Celeron 3867U) — the A6-3500 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75 (A6-3500) and Kaby Lake-U (Celeron 3867U).

FeatureA6-3500Celeron 3867U
Socket
FM1
BGA1356
PCIe Generation
PCIe 2.0
PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1866
DDR4-2133+14%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
32 GB+100%
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
16+33%
12
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Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A6-3500) vs VT-x, VT-d (Celeron 3867U). Both include integrated graphics Radeon HD 6530D (A6-3500) and HD Graphics 610 (Celeron 3867U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A6-3500 targets Budget Desktop, Celeron 3867U targets Budget. Direct competitor: A6-3500 rivals Pentium G620; Celeron 3867U rivals Pentium Gold 4417U.

FeatureA6-3500Celeron 3867U
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 6530D
HD Graphics 610
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
VT-x, VT-d
Target Use
Budget Desktop
Budget