A6-9400 vs Core i7-4600U

A6-9400 vs Core i7-4600U Performance Spectrum

A6-9400

2 / 2

2,717

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i7-4600U

2 / 4

2,720

+0.1%

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.

A6-9400 vs Core i7-4600U 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.

A6-9400 vs Core i7-4600U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A6-9400

2019

Why buy it

✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (8 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon R5, while Core i7-4600U needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (2,717 vs 2,720).

Core i7-4600U

2013

Why buy it

✅+0.1% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.
❌No integrated graphics, while A6-9400 can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is A6-9400 better than Core i7-4600U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, A6-9400 is ahead with a 2.3% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4600U pulls ahead with 0.1% better PassMark.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-4600U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

A6-9400 still makes the most sense overall. A6-9400 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 2.3% average FPS lead across 45 shared CPU game tests in our data.

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

A6-9400 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2013). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A6-9400 vs Core i7-4600U Technical Specifications

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

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.

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.

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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.

Feature	A6-9400	Core 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)	256K (per core)+25500%
Process	28 nm	22 nm-21%
Architecture	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)	Haswell-ULT (2013)
PassMark	2,717	2,720

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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.