CPU
GPU
A6-5400K
Pentium U5400
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 A6-5400K is positioned at rank 765 and the Pentium U5400 is on rank 1219, so the A6-5400K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A6-5400K
Performance Per Dollar Pentium U5400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A6-5400K | Pentium U5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($214) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A6-5400K | Pentium U5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($214) |
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 A6-5400K and Pentium U5400
A6-5400K
The A6-5400K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,279 points. Launch price was $70.
Pentium U5400
The Pentium U5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,286 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
Both the A6-5400K and Pentium U5400 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.8 GHz on the A6-5400K versus 1.2 GHz on the Pentium U5400 — a 104% clock advantage for the A6-5400K (base: 3.6 GHz vs 1.2 GHz). The A6-5400K uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Pentium U5400 uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A6-5400K scores 1,279 against the Pentium U5400's 1,286 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium U5400. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 390 vs 170, a 78.6% lead for the A6-5400K that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A6-5400K vs 3 MB (total) on the Pentium U5400.
| Feature | A6-5400K | Pentium U5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 3.8 GHz+217% | 1.2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz+200% | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core)+300% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Trinity (2012−2013) | Arrandale (2010−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,279 | 1,286 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 390+129% | 170 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 300 |
Memory & Platform
The A6-5400K uses the FM2 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Pentium U5400 uses BGA1288 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1866 memory speed. The A6-5400K supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: A55,A75,A85X,A88X (A6-5400K) and HM55 (Pentium U5400).
| Feature | A6-5400K | Pentium U5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FM2 | BGA1288 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1866 | DDR3-800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+300% | 8 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the A6-5400K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A6-5400K) vs VT-x (Pentium U5400). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon HD 7540D (A6-5400K) and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Pentium U5400) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A6-5400K targets Budget Desktop, Pentium U5400 targets Legacy Budget Laptop. Direct competitor: A6-5400K rivals Pentium G2120.
| Feature | A6-5400K | Pentium U5400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon HD 7540D | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | VT-x |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | Legacy Budget Laptop |
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