Athlon II X4 640 vs Core i3-6006U

CPU

GPU

Athlon II X4 640

4 Cores4 Thrd95 WWMax: 3 GHz2010

Similar parts

·······

Buy on Amazon

Core i3-6006U

2 Cores4 Thrd15 WWMax: 2 GHz2016

Similar parts

·······

Buy on Amazon

Athlon II X4 640 vs Core i3-6006U Performance Spectrum

Athlon II X4 640

4 / 4

2,266

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-6006U

2 / 4

2,273

+0.3%

Celeron 847

Core i3-530

Pentium Dual Core T2390

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.

Athlon II X4 640 vs Core i3-6006U 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.

Athlon II X4 640 vs Core i3-6006U: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon II X4 640

2010

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.4% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i3-6006U.

Trade-offs

❌Lower Cinebench R23 multi-core (1,471 vs 2,200).
❌Launch MSRP is still $80 MSRP, while Core i3-6006U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌533.3% higher power demand at 95W vs 15W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-6006U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i3-6006U

2016

Why buy it

✅+49.6% higher Cinebench R23 multi-core.
✅Draws 15W instead of 95W, a 80W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 520, while Athlon II X4 640 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon II X4 640 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Athlon II X4 640.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i3-6006U better than Athlon II X4 640?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, Athlon II X4 640 is ahead with a 3.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-6006U pulls ahead with 49.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-6006U is the stronger fit. You are getting 49.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

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

Core i3-6006U is still the much better call for a fresh build. Core i3-6006U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $80 MSRP, and it still gives you 49.6% better Cinebench R23 multi-core. Athlon II X4 640 only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2010 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (28.3 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on AM3.

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

Core i3-6006U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2010) and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 4 threads instead of 4/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Athlon II X4 640 vs Core i3-6006U Technical Specifications

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

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 60% 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 — 100% 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+60%
Max RAM Capacity	16 GB	32 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
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.