A6-9210 vs Core i5-450M

A6-9210 vs Core i5-450M Performance Spectrum

A6-9210

2 / 2

1,254

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i5-450M

2 / 4

1,264

+0.8%

Celeron N3000

Pentium T3400

Pentium Dual-Core E2200

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.

A6-9210 vs Core i5-450M 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.

A6-9210 vs Core i5-450M: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A6-9210

2016

Why buy it

✅Draws 15W instead of 35W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,254 vs 1,264).

Core i5-450M

2010

Why buy it

✅+0.8% higher PassMark.
✅100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $32 MSRP, while A6-9210 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌133.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 15W.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-9210 better than Core i5-450M?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A6-9210 is ahead with a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-450M pulls ahead with 0.8% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i5-450M is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

A6-9210 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A6-9210 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-450M only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (39.5 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on PGA988.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

A6-9210 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2010). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A6-9210 vs Core i5-450M Technical Specifications

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

A6-9210

The A6-9210 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 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FP4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 1,254 points. Launch price was $70.

Core i5-450M

The Core i5-450M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 26 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 2.66 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,264 points. Launch price was $32.

⚡

Processing Power

The A6-9210 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i5-450M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the A6-9210 versus 2.66 GHz on the Core i5-450M — a 5.1% clock advantage for the A6-9210 (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.4 GHz). The A6-9210 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i5-450M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A6-9210 scores 1,254 against the Core i5-450M's 1,264 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i5-450M.

Feature	A6-9210	Core i5-450M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.8 GHz+5%	2.66 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	2.4 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1024 kB+300%	256K (per core)
Process	28 nm-13%	32 nm
Architecture	Stoney Ridge (2016−2019)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,254	1,264

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-9210 uses the FP4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i5-450M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A6-9210 versus 1066 on the Core i5-450M — the A6-9210 supports 100.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-9210 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A6-9210) vs 2 (Core i5-450M). PCIe lanes: 8 (A6-9210) vs 16 (Core i5-450M) — the Core i5-450M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD BGA soldered (A6-9210) and HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-450M).

Feature	A6-9210	Core i5-450M
Socket	FP4	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133+100%	1066
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB+100%	8 GB
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (A6-9210) / true (Core i5-450M). Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon R4 (A6-9210) and Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i5-450M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-450M rivals AMD Turion II M620.