A9-9420 vs Ryzen 5 3600
A9-9420
Ryzen 5 3600
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. The A9-9420 is positioned at rank #1074 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 A9-9420
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A9-9420 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | ✨ Modern (Matisse (2019−2020) / 7 nm, 12 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A9-9420 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+331%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($30) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($80) |
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 A9-9420 and Ryzen 5 3600
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.
Ryzen 5 3600
The Ryzen 5 3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 7 July 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 17,685 points. Launch price was $199.
Processing Power
The A9-9420 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Ryzen 5 3600 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.6 GHz on the A9-9420 versus 4.2 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3600 — a 15.4% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600 (base: 3 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The A9-9420 uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses Matisse (2019−2020) (7 nm, 12 nm). In PassMark, the A9-9420 scores 1,538 against the Ryzen 5 3600's 17,685 — a 168% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 497 vs 1,295, a 89.1% lead for the Ryzen 5 3600 that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 950 vs 1,898 (66.6% advantage for the Ryzen 5 3600). L3 cache: 0 kB on the A9-9420 vs 32 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 3600.
| Feature | A9-9420 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 6 / 12+200% |
| Boost Clock | 3.6 GHz | 4.2 GHz+17% |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz | 3.6 GHz+20% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 32 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB (total)+100% | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 28 nm | 7 nm, 12 nm-75% |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Matisse (2019−2020) |
| PassMark | 1,538 | 17,685+1050% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | — | 9,500 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 497 | 1,295+161% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 950 | 1,898+100% |
Memory & Platform
The A9-9420 uses the FT4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (A9-9420) vs 2 (Ryzen 5 3600). PCIe lanes: 8 (A9-9420) vs 24 (Ryzen 5 3600) — the Ryzen 5 3600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: SoC (A9-9420) and AMD B550,AMD X570,AMD B450,AMD X470 (Ryzen 5 3600).
| Feature | A9-9420 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FT4 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-3200 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 128 GB+1500% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 8 | 24+200% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 3600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: AMD-V (A9-9420) vs Yes (Ryzen 5 3600). The A9-9420 includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5), while the Ryzen 5 3600 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A9-9420 targets Budget Laptop, Ryzen 5 3600 targets Gaming/Budget Workstation. Direct competitor: A9-9420 rivals Pentium N4200; Ryzen 5 3600 rivals Core i5-10400.
| Feature | A9-9420 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R5 | — |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget Laptop | Gaming/Budget Workstation |
Value Analysis
The A9-9420 launched at $150 MSRP, while the Ryzen 5 3600 debuted at $199. At current prices ($30 vs $80), the A9-9420 is $50 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the A9-9420 delivers 51.3 pts/$ vs 221.1 pts/$ for the Ryzen 5 3600 — making the Ryzen 5 3600 the 124.7% better value option.
| Feature | A9-9420 | Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-25% | $199 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $30-63% | $80 |
| Performance per Dollar | 51.3 | 221.1+331% |
| Release Date | 2016 | 2019 |
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