A6-9400
VS
Core i7-4600U

A6-9400 vs Core i7-4600U

AMD

A6-9400

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 3.7 GHz2019
VS
Intel

Core i7-4600U

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 3.3 GHz2013

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i7-4600U

#741
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
1079%
#742
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
1063%
#743
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
976%
#744
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
971%
#745
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
962%
#747
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
929%
#748
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
891%
#749
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
890%
#750
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
866%
#753
Core i7-4600U
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
#757
Core i7-11370H
MSRP: $426|Avg: N/A
100%
#761
Core i3-N300
MSRP: $309|Avg: $309
99%
#767
Core i7-1250U
MSRP: $426|Avg: N/A
98%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Generational Difference: This comparison involves processors from different technological eras. The A6-9400 (2019) utilizes 28 nm technology and DDR4-2400, providing a fundamental performance advantage.
InsightA6-9400Core i7-4600U
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing
Longevity
✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Haswell-ULT (2013) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

The Core i7-4600U (2013) relies on 22 nm technology and DDR3, placing it in a different performance category relative to modern standards.
InsightA6-9400Core i7-4600U
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
Equivalent pricing
Equivalent pricing

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

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 A6-9400 and Core i7-4600U

AMD

A6-9400

The A6-9400 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 2,717 points. Launch price was $70.

Intel

Core i7-4600U

The Core i7-4600U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Haswell-ULT (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,720 points. Launch price was $398.

Processing Power

The A6-9400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i7-4600U's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the A6-9400 versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i7-4600U — a 11.4% clock advantage for the A6-9400 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.1 GHz). The A6-9400 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i7-4600U uses Haswell-ULT (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A6-9400 scores 2,717 against the Core i7-4600U's 2,720 — a 0.1% lead for the Core i7-4600U.

FeatureA6-9400Core i7-4600U
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3.7 GHz+12%
3.3 GHz
Base Clock
3.4 GHz+62%
2.1 GHz
L3 Cache
4 MB (total)
L2 Cache
1 MB (total)+300%
256K (per core)
Process
28 nm
22 nm-21%
Architecture
Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
Haswell-ULT (2013)
PassMark
2,717
2,720
🧠

Memory & Platform

The A6-9400 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-4600U uses FCBGA1168 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureA6-9400Core i7-4600U
Socket
AM4
FCBGA1168
PCIe Generation
PCIe 3.0
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-2400
Max RAM Capacity
64 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
8
🔧

Advanced Features

The A6-9400 includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon R5), while the Core i7-4600U requires a dedicated GPU.

FeatureA6-9400Core i7-4600U
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon R5