
Atom N2600 vs A6-6400K

Atom N2600

A6-6400K
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 Atom N2600 is positioned at rank 40 and the A6-6400K is on rank 688, so the Atom N2600 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom N2600
Performance Per Dollar A6-6400K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom N2600 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Cedarview-M (2011−2012) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom N2600 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 Atom N2600 and A6-6400K

Atom N2600
The Atom N2600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 December 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Cedarview-M (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.6 GHz, with boost up to 1.6 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA559. Thermal design power (TDP): 3.5 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,528 points. Launch price was $47.

A6-6400K
The A6-6400K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.9 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,511 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Atom N2600 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A6-6400K's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.6 GHz on the Atom N2600 versus 4.1 GHz on the A6-6400K — a 87.7% clock advantage for the A6-6400K (base: 1.6 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Atom N2600 uses the Cedarview-M (2011−2012) architecture (32 nm), while the A6-6400K uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Atom N2600 scores 1,528 against the A6-6400K's 1,511 — a 1.1% lead for the Atom N2600. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom N2600 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.6 GHz | 4.1 GHz+156% |
| Base Clock | 1.6 GHz | 3.9 GHz+144% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 1024 kB+100% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Cedarview-M (2011−2012) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,528+1% | 1,511 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom N2600 uses the FCBGA559 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A6-6400K uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3-800 on the Atom N2600 versus 1866 on the A6-6400K — the A6-6400K supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-6400K supports up to 32 of RAM compared to 2 GB — 176.5% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom N2600) vs 2 (A6-6400K). PCIe lanes: 4 (Atom N2600) vs 16 (A6-6400K) — the A6-6400K offers 12 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel NM10 (Atom N2600) and FM2 (A6-6400K).
| Feature | Atom N2600 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA559 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-800 | 1866+62100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 2 GB+6553500% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 4 | 16+300% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom N2600) / true (A6-6400K). Both include integrated graphics — Intel GMA 3600 (Atom N2600) and Radeon HD 8470D (A6-6400K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A6-6400K rivals Pentium G3258.
| Feature | Atom N2600 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel GMA 3600 | Radeon HD 8470D |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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