CPU
GPU
Athlon II M300
A6-3600
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. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Athlon II M300 is positioned at rank 940 and the A6-3600 is on rank 613, so the A6-3600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II M300
Performance Per Dollar A6-3600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II M300 | A6-3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Caspian (2009) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II M300 | A6-3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+147%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($10) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($25) |
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 Athlon II M300 and A6-3600
Athlon II M300
The Athlon II M300 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Caspian (2009) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: S1g3. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR2. Passmark benchmark score: 1,700 points. Launch price was $149.
A6-3600
The A6-3600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 2.4 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,718 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Athlon II M300 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, while the A6-3600 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A6-3600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Athlon II M300 versus 2.4 GHz on the A6-3600 — a 18.2% clock advantage for the A6-3600. The Athlon II M300 uses the Caspian (2009) architecture (45 nm), while the A6-3600 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II M300 scores 1,700 against the A6-3600's 1,718 — a 1.1% lead for the A6-3600.
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | A6-3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.4 GHz+20% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | — | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 1 MB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Caspian (2009) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,700 | 1,718+1% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 253 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II M300 uses the S1g3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A6-3600 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 800 on the Athlon II M300 versus DDR3-1866 on the A6-3600 — the Athlon II M300 supports 198.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-3600 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Athlon II M300) vs 16 (A6-3600) — the A6-3600 offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: S1g3 (Athlon II M300) and A55,A75 (A6-3600).
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | A6-3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | S1g3 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | 800+26567% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 16 GB+209715100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: true (Athlon II M300) vs AMD-V (A6-3600). The A6-3600 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6530D), while the Athlon II M300 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A6-3600 targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: Athlon II M300 rivals Core 2 Duo T6400; A6-3600 rivals Pentium G630.
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | A6-3600 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | None | Radeon HD 6530D |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | true | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Budget Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Athlon II M300 launched at $100 MSRP, while the A6-3600 debuted at $95. At current prices ($10 vs $25), the Athlon II M300 is $15 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Athlon II M300 delivers 170.0 pts/$ vs 68.7 pts/$ for the A6-3600 — making the Athlon II M300 the 84.9% better value option.
| Feature | Athlon II M300 | A6-3600 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100 | $95-5% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $10-60% | $25 |
| Performance per Dollar | 170.0+147% | 68.7 |
| Release Date | 2009 | 2011 |
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