
A9-9420e

Core 2 Duo E8435
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 A9-9420e is positioned at rank 833 and the Core 2 Duo E8435 is on rank 1152, so the A9-9420e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar A9-9420e
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo E8435
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | A9-9420e | Core 2 Duo E8435 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($74) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Penryn (2008−2011) / 45 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | A9-9420e | Core 2 Duo E8435 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($74) |
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 A9-9420e and Core 2 Duo E8435

A9-9420e
The A9-9420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,101 points. Launch price was $69.

Core 2 Duo E8435
The Core 2 Duo E8435 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2008-01-01. It is based on the Penryn (2008−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.067 GHz, with boost up to 0.07 GHz. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: P. Thermal design power (TDP): 44 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,104 points. Launch price was $249.
Processing Power
Both the A9-9420e and Core 2 Duo E8435 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the A9-9420e versus 0.07 GHz on the Core 2 Duo E8435 — a 189.1% clock advantage for the A9-9420e. The A9-9420e uses the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture (28 nm), while the Core 2 Duo E8435 uses Penryn (2008−2011) (45 nm). In PassMark, the A9-9420e scores 1,101 against the Core 2 Duo E8435's 1,104 — a 0.3% lead for the Core 2 Duo E8435.
| Feature | A9-9420e | Core 2 Duo E8435 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+3471% | 0.07 GHz |
| Base Clock | — | 3.067 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 6 MB (total)+500% |
| Process | 28 nm-38% | 45 nm |
| Architecture | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) | Penryn (2008−2011) |
| PassMark | 1,101 | 1,104 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 257 |
Memory & Platform
The A9-9420e uses the BGA socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core 2 Duo E8435 uses P (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 2133 on the A9-9420e versus DDR3-1333 on the Core 2 Duo E8435 — the A9-9420e supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 16 of RAM. Memory channels: 1 (A9-9420e) vs 2 (Core 2 Duo E8435). PCIe lanes: 4 (A9-9420e) vs 0 (Core 2 Duo E8435) — the A9-9420e offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: FT4,FP4 (A9-9420e) and Socket P (Core 2 Duo E8435).
| Feature | A9-9420e | Core 2 Duo E8435 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA | P |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+173% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | 2133+71000% | DDR3-1333 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 | 16 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (A9-9420e) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core 2 Duo E8435). The A9-9420e includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5 Graphics), while the Core 2 Duo E8435 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A9-9420e rivals Pentium N4200.
| Feature | A9-9420e | Core 2 Duo E8435 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | Radeon R5 Graphics | — |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | VT-x, VT-d |
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