A6-9220 vs Core i3-390M

A6-9220 vs Core i3-390M Performance Spectrum

A6-9220

2 / 2

1,307

+1.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3955WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-390M

2 / 4

1,292

0.0%

Atom D2550

Pentium T3400

Pentium E5400

Pentium Dual Core T4200

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 Core i3-390M 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 Core i3-390M: 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

✅Better for gaming: +4.7% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 1W instead of 512W, a 511W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer obvious downsides in this matchup outside of normal market pricing swings.

Core i3-390M

2011

Why buy it

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

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than A6-9220 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (1,292 vs 1,307).
❌51100% higher power demand at 512W vs 1W.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-9220 better than Core i3-390M?

Yes. A6-9220 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 1.2% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A6-9220 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.7% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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 1.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

A6-9220 still makes the most sense overall. A6-9220 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.7% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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 2011) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

A6-9220 vs Core i3-390M Technical Specifications

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

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.

Core i3-390M

The Core i3-390M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 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: 1,292 points. Launch price was $39.

⚡

Processing Power

The A6-9220 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-390M's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.9 GHz on the A6-9220 versus 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M — a 124.9% clock advantage for the A6-9220 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 2.66 GHz). The A6-9220 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-390M uses Arrandale (2010−2011) (32 nm). In PassMark, the A6-9220 scores 1,307 against the Core i3-390M's 1,292 — a 1.2% lead for the A6-9220.

Feature	A6-9220	Core i3-390M
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 4
Boost Clock	2.9 GHz+333%	0.67 GHz
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	2.66 GHz+6%
L3 Cache	—	3 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1 MB	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	28 nm-13%	32 nm
Architecture	Stoney Ridge (2016−2019)	Arrandale (2010−2011)
PassMark	1,307+1%	1,292

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-9220 uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i3-390M uses PGA988 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A6-9220 versus DDR3-1066 on the Core i3-390M — the A6-9220 supports 100.1% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (A6-9220) vs 2 (Core i3-390M). PCIe lanes: 8 (A6-9220) vs 16 (Core i3-390M) — the Core i3-390M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.

Feature	A6-9220	Core i3-390M
Socket	BGA	PGA988
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0+50%	PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133+100%	DDR3-1066
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8	16+100%

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (A6-9220) / VT-x (Core i3-390M). Both include integrated graphics — AMD Radeon R4 (A6-9220) and HD Graphics (Core i3-390M) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile.