CPU
GPU
Athlon II X4 640
Core i3-6006U
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 X4 640 is positioned at rank 621 and the Core i3-6006U is on rank 370, so the Core i3-6006U 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 X4 640
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6006U
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Propus (2009−2011) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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.
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Athlon II X4 640 and Core i3-6006U
Athlon II X4 640
The Athlon II X4 640 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Propus (2009−2011) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3 GHz, with boost up to 3 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: AM3. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,266 points. Launch price was $80.
Core i3-6006U
The Core i3-6006U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 November 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,273 points. Launch price was $281.
Processing Power
The Athlon II X4 640 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6006U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 640 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3 GHz on the Athlon II X4 640 versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-6006U — a 40% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 640 (base: 3 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Athlon II X4 640 uses the Propus (2009−2011) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-6006U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon II X4 640 scores 2,266 against the Core i3-6006U's 2,273 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-6006U. Cinebench R23 multi-core: 1,471 vs 2,200 (39.7% advantage for the Core i3-6006U). Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 386 vs 630, a 48% lead for the Core i3-6006U that directly translates to higher frame rates. Multi-core Geekbench: 1,332 vs 1,313 (1.4% advantage for the Athlon II X4 640). L3 cache: 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 640 vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6006U.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3 GHz+50% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3 GHz+50% | 2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 3 MB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB (per core) | 512 kB |
| Process | 45 nm | 14 nm-69% |
| Architecture | Propus (2009−2011) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 2,266 | 2,273 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,471 | 2,200+50% |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 386 | 630+63% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,332+1% | 1,313 |
Memory & Platform
The Athlon II X4 640 uses the AM3 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Core i3-6006U uses BGA1356 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-1333 on the Athlon II X4 640 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6006U — the Core i3-6006U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i3-6006U supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon II X4 640) vs 12 (Core i3-6006U) — the Athlon II X4 640 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AM2+,AM3 (Athlon II X4 640) and Skylake-U (Core i3-6006U).
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM3 | BGA1356 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR4-2133+33% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 32 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+33% | 12 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: AMD-V (Athlon II X4 640) vs Yes (Core i3-6006U). The Core i3-6006U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 520), while the Athlon II X4 640 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Athlon II X4 640 targets Budget, Core i3-6006U targets Mobile. Direct competitor: Athlon II X4 640 rivals Core 2 Quad Q8300.
| Feature | Athlon II X4 640 | Core i3-6006U |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | HD Graphics 520 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | AMD-V | Yes |
| Target Use | Budget | Mobile |
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