Athlon Silver 7120U vs Core i3-6100H

AMD

Athlon Silver 7120U

2 Cores2 Thrd15 WWMax: 3.5 GHz2022
Similar parts
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VS
Intel

Core i3-6100H

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2015
Similar parts
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Athlon Silver 7120U vs Core i3-6100H Performance Spectrum

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 Silver 7120U vs Core i3-6100H 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 Silver 7120U vs Core i3-6100H: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Athlon Silver 7120U

2022

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 512W, a 497W reduction.
  • Newer platform on FT6 with DDR5 support instead of BGA1440 and DDR4.
  • 100+% more PCIe lanes (4 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
  • Integrated graphics onboard with AMD Radeon 610M, while Core i3-6100H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

  • Smaller total L3 cache (2 MB vs 3 MB).

Core i3-6100H

2015

Why buy it

  • +50% larger total L3 cache (3 MB vs 2 MB).

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark (3,003 vs 3,012).
  • 3313.3% higher power demand at 512W vs 15W.
  • Older platform position on BGA1440 with DDR4, while Athlon Silver 7120U moves to FT6 and DDR5.
  • No integrated graphics, while Athlon Silver 7120U can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon Silver 7120U better than Core i3-6100H?
Yes. Athlon Silver 7120U is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.3% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Athlon Silver 7120U is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 1.6% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Athlon Silver 7120U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.3% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 2 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Athlon Silver 7120U still makes the most sense overall. Athlon Silver 7120U comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 1.6% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Athlon Silver 7120U makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2015), a healthier platform with FT6 and DDR5 instead of BGA1440, and more multi-core headroom with 2 cores / 2 threads instead of 2/4. That gives you a healthier platform runway for motherboard, RAM, and later CPU upgrades.

Athlon Silver 7120U vs Core i3-6100H Technical Specifications

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

AMD

Athlon Silver 7120U

The Athlon Silver 7120U is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 6 nm process technology. Socket: FT6. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR5 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 3,012 points. Launch price was $149.

Intel

Core i3-6100H

The Core i3-6100H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,003 points. Launch price was $225.

Processing Power

The Athlon Silver 7120U packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-6100H's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Athlon Silver 7120U versus 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-6100H — a 25.8% clock advantage for the Athlon Silver 7120U (base: 2.4 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Athlon Silver 7120U uses the Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Core i3-6100H uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon Silver 7120U scores 3,012 against the Core i3-6100H's 3,003 — a 0.3% lead for the Athlon Silver 7120U. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Athlon Silver 7120U vs 3 MB on the Core i3-6100H.

FeatureAthlon Silver 7120UCore i3-6100H
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
3.5 GHz+30%
2.7 GHz
Base Clock
2.4 GHz
2.7 GHz+13%
L3 Cache
2 MB (total)
3 MB+50%
L2 Cache
512 kB (per core)
512 kB
Process
6 nm-57%
14 nm
Architecture
Mendocino (Zen 2) (2022−2023)
Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark
3,012
3,003
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Memory & Platform

The Athlon Silver 7120U uses the FT6 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i3-6100H uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeatureAthlon Silver 7120UCore i3-6100H
Socket
FT6
BGA1440
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0+33%
PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed
LPDDR5-5500
Max RAM Capacity
16 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
No
PCIe Lanes
4
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Advanced Features

The Athlon Silver 7120U includes integrated graphics (AMD Radeon 610M), while the Core i3-6100H requires a dedicated GPU.

FeatureAthlon Silver 7120UCore i3-6100H
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
AMD Radeon 610M