A6-9220C vs Athlon II X2 220

AMD

A6-9220C

2 Cores2 Thrd6 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2019
VS
AMD

Athlon II X2 220

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.8 GHz2010

A6-9220C vs Athlon II X2 220 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.

A6-9220C vs Athlon II X2 220 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.

A6-9220C vs Athlon II X2 220: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A6-9220C

2019

Why buy it

  • βœ…+0.7% higher PassMark.
  • βœ…Draws 6W instead of 65W, a 59W reduction.
  • βœ…100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • βœ…Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon R5, while Athlon II X2 220 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • ❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X2 220.

Athlon II X2 220

2010

Why buy it

  • βœ…Includes a boxed cooler (true), unlike A6-9220C.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark (1,046 vs 1,053).
  • ❌Launch MSRP is still $32 MSRP, while A6-9220C mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
  • ❌983.3% higher power demand at 65W vs 6W.
  • ❌No integrated graphics, while A6-9220C can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-9220C better than Athlon II X2 220?
It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X2 220 is ahead with a 0.2% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, A6-9220C pulls ahead with 0.7% better PassMark.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A6-9220C is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.7% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
A6-9220C is still the much better call for a fresh build. A6-9220C comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $32 MSRP, and it still gives you 0.7% better PassMark. Athlon II X2 220 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (32.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
A6-9220C makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2010) 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.

A6-9220C vs Athlon II X2 220 Technical Specifications

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

AMD

A6-9220C

The A6-9220C is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016βˆ’2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT4. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,053 points. Launch price was $70.

AMD

Athlon II X2 220

The Athlon II X2 220 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 21 September 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Regor (2009βˆ’2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,046 points. Launch price was $32.

⚑

Processing Power

Both the A6-9220C and Athlon II X2 220 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the A6-9220C versus 2.8 GHz on the Athlon II X2 220 β€” a 3.6% clock advantage for the Athlon II X2 220 (base: 1.8 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The A6-9220C uses the Stoney Ridge (2016βˆ’2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Athlon II X2 220 uses Regor (2009βˆ’2013) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A6-9220C scores 1,053 against the Athlon II X2 220's 1,046 β€” a 0.7% lead for the A6-9220C.

FeatureA6-9220CAthlon II X2 220
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 2
Boost Clock
2.7 GHz
2.8 GHz+4%
Base Clock
1.8 GHz
2.8 GHz+56%
L3 Cache
β€”
0 kB
L2 Cache
1 MB (total)+100%
512 kB
Process
28 nm-38%
45 nm
Architecture
Stoney Ridge (2016βˆ’2019)
Regor (2009βˆ’2013)
PassMark
1,053
1,046
Geekbench 6 Single
β€”
285
Geekbench 6 Multi
β€”
500
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-9220C uses the FT4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X2 220 uses AM3 (PCIe 2.0) β€” making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-1866 on the A6-9220C versus 1333 on the Athlon II X2 220 β€” the A6-9220C supports 40% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X2 220 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB β€” 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A6-9220C) vs 2 (Athlon II X2 220). PCIe lanes: 8 (A6-9220C) vs 0 (Athlon II X2 220) β€” the A6-9220C offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD BGA soldered (A6-9220C) and AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X2 220).

FeatureA6-9220CAthlon II X2 220
Socket
FT4
AM3
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0+50%
PCIe 2.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-1866+40%
1333
Max RAM Capacity
8 GB
16 GB+100%
RAM Channels
1
2+100%
ECC Support
No
No
PCIe Lanes
8
0
πŸ”§

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (A6-9220C) / true (Athlon II X2 220). The A6-9220C includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon R5), while the Athlon II X2 220 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Athlon II X2 220 rivals Pentium E5500.

FeatureA6-9220CAthlon II X2 220
Integrated GPU
Yes
No
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon R5
None
Unlocked
β€”
No
AVX-512
β€”
No
Virtualization
β€”
true