Athlon X4 730 vs Core i3-6006U

Athlon X4 730 vs Core i3-6006U Performance Spectrum

Athlon X4 730

4 / 4

2,278

+0.2%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

Core i3-6006U

2 / 4

2,273

0.0%

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 X4 730 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 X4 730 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 X4 730

2012

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.0% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅33.3% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 12) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $60 MSRP, while Core i3-6006U mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 65W 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

✅Draws 15W instead of 65W, a 50W reduction.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with HD Graphics 520, while Athlon X4 730 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Athlon X4 730 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (2,273 vs 2,278).

Quick Answers

So, is Athlon X4 730 better than Core i3-6006U?

Yes. Athlon X4 730 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.2% better PassMark, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Athlon X4 730 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.0% 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 X4 730 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

Athlon X4 730 is the better buy right now. Athlon X4 730 comes in at an unclear MSRP at $60 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.0% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (38.0 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so you are getting the faster CPU without taking a value hit on paper.

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 2012). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Athlon X4 730 vs Core i3-6006U Technical Specifications

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

Athlon X4 730

The Athlon X4 730 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L2 cache: 4 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,278 points. Launch price was $149.

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.

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Processing Power

The Athlon X4 730 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Core i3-6006U offers 2 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon X4 730 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Athlon X4 730 versus 2 GHz on the Core i3-6006U — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Athlon X4 730 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2 GHz). The Athlon X4 730 uses the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture (32 nm), while the Core i3-6006U uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Athlon X4 730 scores 2,278 against the Core i3-6006U's 2,273 — a 0.2% lead for the Athlon X4 730.

Feature	Athlon X4 730	Core i3-6006U
Cores / Threads	4 / 4+100%	2 / 4
Boost Clock	3.2 GHz+60%	2 GHz
Base Clock	2.8 GHz+40%	2 GHz
L3 Cache	—	3 MB
L2 Cache	4 MB (total)+700%	512 kB
Process	32 nm	14 nm-56%
Architecture	Trinity (2012−2013)	Skylake (2015−2016)
PassMark	2,278	2,273
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	2,200
Geekbench 6 Single	—	630
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	1,313

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Memory & Platform

The Athlon X4 730 uses the FM2 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 DDR3-1866 on the Athlon X4 730 versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6006U — the Core i3-6006U supports 14.3% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon X4 730 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 100% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Athlon X4 730) vs 12 (Core i3-6006U) — the Athlon X4 730 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD FM2 (Athlon X4 730) and Skylake-U (Core i3-6006U).

Feature	Athlon X4 730	Core i3-6006U
Socket	FM2	BGA1356
PCIe Generation	PCIe 2.0	PCIe 3.0+50%
Max RAM Speed	DDR3-1866	DDR4-2133+14%
Max RAM Capacity	64 GB+100%	32 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16+33%	12

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Athlon X4 730) / Yes (Core i3-6006U). The Core i3-6006U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 520), while the Athlon X4 730 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6006U targets Mobile.