A9-9420 vs Celeron J4005

A9-9420 vs Celeron J4005 Performance Spectrum

A9-9420

2 / 2

1,538

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Celeron J4005

2 / 2

1,543

+0.3%

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.

A9-9420 vs Celeron J4005 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.

A9-9420 vs Celeron J4005: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

A9-9420

2016

Why buy it

✅+10.4% higher Geekbench single-core performance for gaming and desktop responsiveness.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $150 MSRP, while Celeron J4005 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌50% higher power demand at 15W vs 10W.

Celeron J4005

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 10W instead of 15W, a 5W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Geekbench single-core performance for gaming (450 vs 497).
❌Lower Geekbench multi-core (800 vs 950).

Quick Answers

So, is A9-9420 better than Celeron J4005?

Yes. A9-9420 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 18.8% better Geekbench multi-core, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, A9-9420 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 0.1% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, A9-9420 is the stronger fit. You are getting 18.8% better Geekbench multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.

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

A9-9420 is the better buy right now. A9-9420 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $150 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 0.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (10.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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

Celeron J4005 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2017 vs 2016). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

A9-9420 vs Celeron J4005 Technical Specifications

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

A9-9420

The A9-9420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 31 May 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT4. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,538 points. Launch price was $69.

Celeron J4005

The Celeron J4005 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 December 2017 (7 years ago). It is based on the Goldmont Plus (2017) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1090. Thermal design power (TDP): 10 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,543 points. Launch price was $107.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the A9-9420 and Celeron J4005 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A9-9420 versus 2.7 GHz on the Celeron J4005 — a 28.6% clock advantage for the A9-9420 (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The A9-9420 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Celeron J4005 uses Goldmont Plus (2017) (14 nm). In PassMark, the A9-9420 scores 1,538 against the Celeron J4005's 1,543 — a 0.3% lead for the Celeron J4005. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 497 vs 450, a 9.9% lead for the A9-9420 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 950 vs 800 (17.1% advantage for the A9-9420). L3 cache: 0 kB on the A9-9420 vs 4 MB on the Celeron J4005.

Feature	A9-9420	Celeron J4005
Cores / Threads	2 / 2	2 / 2
Boost Clock	3.6 GHz+33%	2.7 GHz
Base Clock	3 GHz+50%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	0 kB	4 MB
L2 Cache	1 MB (total)	4 MB (total)+300%
Process	28 nm	14 nm-50%
Architecture	Stoney Ridge (2016−2019)	Goldmont Plus (2017)
PassMark	1,538	1,543
Geekbench 6 Single	497+10%	450
Geekbench 6 Multi	950+19%	800

🧠

Memory & Platform

The A9-9420 uses the FT4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron J4005 uses FCBGA1090 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the A9-9420 versus DDR4-2400 on the Celeron J4005 — the Celeron J4005 supports 12.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (A9-9420) vs 2 (Celeron J4005). PCIe lanes: 8 (A9-9420) vs 6 (Celeron J4005) — the A9-9420 offers 2 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (A9-9420) and SoC (Celeron J4005).

Feature	A9-9420	Celeron J4005
Socket	FT4	FCBGA1090
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2133	DDR4-2400+13%
Max RAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
RAM Channels	1	2+100%
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	8+33%	6

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A9-9420) vs VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Celeron J4005). Both include integrated graphics — Radeon R5 (A9-9420) and Intel UHD Graphics 600 (Celeron J4005) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A9-9420 targets Budget Laptop, Celeron J4005 targets Entry Level Desktop. Direct competitor: A9-9420 rivals Pentium N4200; Celeron J4005 rivals Ryzen Embedded R1102G.

Feature	A9-9420	Celeron J4005
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Radeon R5	Intel UHD Graphics 600
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	AMD-V	VT-x, VT-d, EPT
Target Use	Budget Laptop	Entry Level Desktop