CPU
GPU
A6-3600
Athlon II X3 440
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 A6-3600 is positioned at rank 613 and the Athlon II X3 440 is on rank 722, so the A6-3600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A6-3600
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X3 440
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A6-3600 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Rana (2009−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A6-3600 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+154%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) | ✅ More affordable ($10) |
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 A6-3600 and Athlon II X3 440
A6-3600
The A6-3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 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: 1,718 points. Launch price was $70.
Athlon II X3 440
The Athlon II X3 440 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 25 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Rana (2009−2011) architecture. It features 3 cores and 3 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,743 points. Launch price was $47.
Processing Power
The A6-3600 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X3 440 offers 3 cores / 3 threads — the A6-3600 has 1 more core. Boost clocks reach 2.4 GHz on the A6-3600 versus 3 GHz on the Athlon II X3 440 — a 22.2% clock advantage for the Athlon II X3 440 (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3 GHz). The A6-3600 uses the Llano (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the Athlon II X3 440 uses Rana (2009−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A6-3600 scores 1,718 against the Athlon II X3 440's 1,743 — a 1.4% lead for the Athlon II X3 440. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | A6-3600 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+33% | 3 / 3 |
| Boost Clock | 2.4 GHz | 3 GHz+25% |
| Base Clock | 2.1 GHz | 3 GHz+43% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+100% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm-29% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Llano (2011−2012) | Rana (2009−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,718 | 1,743+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 253 | — |
Memory & Platform
The A6-3600 uses the FM1 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Athlon II X3 440 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The Athlon II X3 440 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (A6-3600) vs 0 (Athlon II X3 440) — the A6-3600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75 (A6-3600) and AMD AM3 (Athlon II X3 440).
| Feature | A6-3600 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM1 | AM3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: AMD-V (A6-3600) / not specified (Athlon II X3 440). The A6-3600 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6530D), while the Athlon II X3 440 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A6-3600 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A6-3600 rivals Pentium G630.
| Feature | A6-3600 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 6530D | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | — |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
Value Analysis
The A6-3600 launched at $95 MSRP, while the Athlon II X3 440 debuted at $75. At current prices ($25 vs $10), the Athlon II X3 440 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A6-3600 delivers 68.7 pts/$ vs 174.3 pts/$ for the Athlon II X3 440 — making the Athlon II X3 440 the 86.9% better value option.
| Feature | A6-3600 | Athlon II X3 440 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $95 | $75-21% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25 | $10-60% |
| Performance per Dollar | 68.7 | 174.3+154% |
| Release Date | 2011 | 2010 |
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