A6-5357M
VS
Core i3-3217U

A6-5357M vs Core i3-3217U

AMD

A6-5357M

2 Cores2 Thrd35 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2013
VS
Intel

Core i3-3217U

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.8 GHz2012

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 A6-5357M is positioned at rank 872 and the Core i3-3217U is on rank 684, so the Core i3-3217U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar A6-5357M

#860
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
1444%
#861
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
1423%
#862
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
1306%
#863
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
1300%
#864
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
1288%
#866
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
1244%
#867
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
1193%
#868
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
1191%
#869
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
1159%
#872
A6-5357M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#873
Celeron M 540
MSRP: $86|Avg: $20
100%
#877
Microsoft SQ1
MSRP: $300|Avg: $180
99%
#879
Core i5-6440HQ
MSRP: $250|Avg: N/A
99%
#882
Celeron Dual-Core T1600
MSRP: $150|Avg: $150
98%
#884
Athlon II N330
MSRP: $100|Avg: $50
98%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3217U

#672
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
957%
#673
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
943%
#674
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
866%
#675
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
862%
#676
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
854%
#678
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
825%
#679
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
791%
#680
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
790%
#681
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
768%
#684
Core i3-3217U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#695
Processor N95
MSRP: $160|Avg: $80
98%
#699
Athlon Silver 3050e
MSRP: $100|Avg: $60
97%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The A6-5357M leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i3-3217U is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.6% greater multi-core processing power.
InsightA6-5357MCore i3-3217U
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightA6-5357MCore i3-3217U
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 A6-5357M and Core i3-3217U

AMD

A6-5357M

The A6-5357M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.9 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FP2. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,219 points. Launch price was $70.

Intel

Core i3-3217U

The Core i3-3217U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 June 2012 (13 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 17 Watt. Memory support: DDR3/L/-RS 1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 1,226 points. Launch price was $225.

Processing Power

The A6-5357M packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3217U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the A6-5357M versus 1.8 GHz on the Core i3-3217U — a 64.2% clock advantage for the A6-5357M (base: 2.9 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The A6-5357M uses the Richland (2013−2014) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-3217U uses Ivy Bridge (2012−2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A6-5357M scores 1,219 against the Core i3-3217U's 1,226 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-3217U. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A6-5357M vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3217U.

FeatureA6-5357MCore i3-3217U
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3.5 GHz+94%
1.8 GHz
Base Clock
2.9 GHz+61%
1.8 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
3 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)+100%
256K (per core)
Process
32 nm
22 nm-31%
Architecture
Richland (2013−2014)
Ivy Bridge (2012−2013)
PassMark
1,219
1,226
Geekbench 6 Single
380
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-5357M uses the FP2 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-3217U uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1600 on the A6-5357M versus 1600 on the Core i3-3217U — the Core i3-3217U supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-3217U supports up to 32 of RAM compared to 16 GB 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes.

FeatureA6-5357MCore i3-3217U
Socket
FP2
BGA1023
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR3-1600
1600+53233%
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB+52428700%
32
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A6-5357M) vs true (Core i3-3217U). Both include integrated graphics Radeon HD 8450G (A6-5357M) and Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Core i3-3217U) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A6-5357M targets Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A6-5357M rivals Core i3-3120M; Core i3-3217U rivals AMD A6-4455M.

FeatureA6-5357MCore i3-3217U
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
IGPU Model
Radeon HD 8450G
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Unlocked
No
No
AVX-512
No
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
true
Target Use
Budget Laptop