A6-9400 vs Xeon E5-2603 v2
A6-9400
Xeon E5-2603 v2
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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2603 v2
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A6-9400 | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A6-9400 | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
Performance Check
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 Xeon E5-2603 v2
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.
Xeon E5-2603 v2
The Xeon E5-2603 v2 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.8 GHz, with boost up to 1.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,735 points. Launch price was $240.
Processing Power
The A6-9400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Xeon E5-2603 v2 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the A6-9400 versus 1.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-2603 v2 — a 69.1% clock advantage for the A6-9400 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 1.8 GHz). The A6-9400 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the A6-9400 scores 2,717 against the Xeon E5-2603 v2's 2,735 — a 0.7% lead for the Xeon E5-2603 v2.
| Feature | A6-9400 | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz+106% | 1.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+89% | 1.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 10 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (total)+300% | 256 kB (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 22 nm-21% |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Ivy Bridge-EP (2013) |
| PassMark | 2,717 | 2,735 |
Memory & Platform
The A6-9400 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2603 v2 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | A6-9400 | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| 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 Xeon E5-2603 v2 requires a dedicated GPU.
| Feature | A6-9400 | Xeon E5-2603 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | AMD Radeon R5 | — |
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