Atom x7425E vs Core i5-6400
Atom x7425E
Core i5-6400
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 x7425E is positioned at rank 213 and the Core i5-6400 is on rank 600, so the Atom x7425E offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Atom x7425E
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6400
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Atom x7425E | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($57) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Gracemont (2023) / 10 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Atom x7425E | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($57) |
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 x7425E and Core i5-6400
Atom x7425E
The Atom x7425E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 3 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Gracemont (2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 12 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5 4800 MHz Single-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 5,427 points. Launch price was $149.
Core i5-6400
The Core i5-6400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 July 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 5,417 points. Launch price was $187.
Processing Power
Both the Atom x7425E and Core i5-6400 share an identical 4-core/4-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Atom x7425E versus 3.3 GHz on the Core i5-6400 — a 3% clock advantage for the Atom x7425E (base: 1.5 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Atom x7425E uses the Gracemont (2023) architecture (10 nm), while the Core i5-6400 uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Atom x7425E scores 5,427 against the Core i5-6400's 5,417 — a 0.2% lead for the Atom x7425E. Both processors carry 6 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Atom x7425E | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz+3% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 1.5 GHz | 2.7 GHz+80% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 6 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+700% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 10 nm-29% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Gracemont (2023) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 5,427 | 5,417 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 950 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 3,200 |
Memory & Platform
The Atom x7425E uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Core i5-6400 uses LGA1151 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 on the Atom x7425E versus DDR4-2133 on the Core i5-6400 — the Atom x7425E supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Core i5-6400 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 16 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 1 (Atom x7425E) vs 2 (Core i5-6400). PCIe lanes: 9 (Atom x7425E) vs 16 (Core i5-6400) — the Core i5-6400 offers 7 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel BGA1264 (Atom x7425E) and H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Core i5-6400).
| Feature | Atom x7425E | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1744 | LGA1151 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 4.0+33% | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR5-4800+25% | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 64 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 1 | 2+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 9 | 16+78% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Atom x7425E) / VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i5-6400). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics (24EU) (Atom x7425E) and Intel HD Graphics 530 (Core i5-6400) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-6400 targets Mainstream Desktop.
| Feature | Atom x7425E | Core i5-6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel UHD Graphics (24EU) | Intel HD Graphics 530 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x, VT-d, EPT |
| Target Use | — | Mainstream Desktop |
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