A8-9600 vs Core i3-6100E
A8-9600
Core i3-6100E
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. The A8-9600 is positioned at rank 387 and the Core i3-6100E is on rank 902, so the A8-9600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A8-9600
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6100E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A8-9600 | Core i3-6100E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A8-9600 | Core i3-6100E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($50) |
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 A8-9600 and Core i3-6100E
A8-9600
The A8-9600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,295 points. Launch price was $78.
Core i3-6100E
The Core i3-6100E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 3,315 points. Launch price was $225.
Processing Power
The A8-9600 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6100E offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the A8-9600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the A8-9600 versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-6100E — a 23% clock advantage for the A8-9600. The A8-9600 uses the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core i3-6100E uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A8-9600 scores 3,295 against the Core i3-6100E's 3,315 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-6100E. L3 cache: 0 kB on the A8-9600 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6100E.
| Feature | A8-9600 | Core i3-6100E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+26% | 2.7 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2048 kB+300% | 512 kB |
| Process | 28 nm | 14 nm-50% |
| Architecture | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 3,295 | 3,315 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 607 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,415 | — |
Memory & Platform
Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2400 on the A8-9600 versus 2133 on the Core i3-6100E — the Core i3-6100E supports 199.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-6100E supports up to 64 of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 8 (A8-9600) vs 16 (Core i3-6100E) — the Core i3-6100E offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: A320,B350,X370 (A8-9600) and Intel 100 Series,Intel C230 Series (Core i3-6100E).
| Feature | A8-9600 | Core i3-6100E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | — |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | 2133+53225% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+52428700% | 64 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 16+100% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: AMD-V (A8-9600) vs true (Core i3-6100E). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R7 Series (A8-9600) and Intel HD Graphics 530 (Core i3-6100E) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A8-9600 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A8-9600 rivals Pentium G4560.
| Feature | A8-9600 | Core i3-6100E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R7 Series | Intel HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | true |
| Target Use | Budget Desktop | — |
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