A6-9220 vs Athlon X2 450

AMD

A6-9220

2 Cores2 Thrd1 WWMax: 2.9 GHz2016
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Athlon X2 450

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.9 GHz2014
Similar parts
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A6-9220 vs Athlon X2 450 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.

A6-9220 vs Athlon X2 450 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.

A6-9220 vs Athlon X2 450: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A6-9220

2016

Why buy it

  • +0.9% higher PassMark.
  • Draws 1W instead of 65W, a 64W reduction.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon R4, while Athlon X2 450 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon X2 450.

Athlon X2 450

2014

Why buy it

  • 100% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 8) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Includes a boxed cooler (Stock Cooler), unlike A6-9220.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (1,295 vs 1,307).
  • Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while A6-9220 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • 6400% higher power demand at 65W vs 1W.
  • No integrated graphics, while A6-9220 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-9220 better than Athlon X2 450?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon X2 450 is ahead with a 2.3% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A6-9220 pulls ahead with 0.9% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A6-9220 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
A6-9220 is still the much better call for a fresh build. A6-9220 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $60 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.9% better PassMark. Athlon X2 450 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2014 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (21.6 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on FM2+.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A6-9220 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2014) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/2. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A6-9220 vs Athlon X2 450 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

A6-9220

The A6-9220 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 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,307 points. Launch price was $70.

AMD

Athlon X2 450

The Athlon X2 450 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Kaveri (2014−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FM2+. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,295 points. Launch price was $149.

Processing Power

Both the A6-9220 and Athlon X2 450 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the A6-9220 versus 3.9 GHz on the Athlon X2 450 — a 29.4% clock advantage for the Athlon X2 450 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The A6-9220 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon X2 450 uses Kaveri (2014−2015) (28 nm). In PassMark, the A6-9220 scores 1,307 against the Athlon X2 450's 1,295 — a 0.9% lead for the A6-9220.

FeatureA6-9220Athlon X2 450
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.9 GHz
3.9 GHz+34%
Base Clock
2.5 GHz
3.5 GHz+40%
L2 Cache
1 MB
1 MB (total)
Process
28 nm
28 nm
Architecture
Stoney Ridge (2016−2019)
Kaveri (2014−2015)
PassMark
1,307
1,295
Cinebench R23 Multi
1,500
Geekbench 6 Single
450
Geekbench 6 Multi
800
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Memory & Platform

The A6-9220 uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon X2 450 uses FM2+ (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A6-9220 versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X2 450 — the A6-9220 supports 14.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X2 450 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A6-9220) vs 2 (Athlon X2 450). PCIe lanes: 8 (A6-9220) vs 16 (Athlon X2 450) — the Athlon X2 450 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FT4 (A6-9220) and A88X,A78,A68H (Athlon X2 450).

FeatureA6-9220Athlon X2 450
Socket
BGA
FM2+
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2133+14%
DDR3-1866
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
16 GB+100%
RAM Channels
1
2+100%
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
8
16+100%
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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (A6-9220) / AMD-V (Athlon X2 450). The A6-9220 includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon R4), while the Athlon X2 450 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon X2 450 targets Basic Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon X2 450 rivals Core i3-3220.

FeatureA6-9220Athlon X2 450
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon R4
None
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Basic Desktop