Celeron 2970M vs A6-6400K
Celeron 2970M
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 Celeron 2970M is positioned at rank 591 and the A6-6400K is on rank 688, so the Celeron 2970M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Celeron 2970M
Performance Per Dollar A6-6400K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Celeron 2970M | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Celeron 2970M | 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 Celeron 2970M and A6-6400K
Celeron 2970M
The Celeron 2970M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 April 2014 (11 years ago). It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 2.2 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: PGA946. Thermal design power (TDP): 37 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,501 points. Launch price was $75.
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
Both the Celeron 2970M and A6-6400K share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.2 GHz on the Celeron 2970M versus 4.1 GHz on the A6-6400K — a 60.3% clock advantage for the A6-6400K (base: 2.2 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Celeron 2970M uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the A6-6400K uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Celeron 2970M scores 1,501 against the A6-6400K's 1,511 — a 0.7% lead for the A6-6400K. L3 cache: 2 MB on the Celeron 2970M vs 0 kB on the A6-6400K.
| Feature | Celeron 2970M | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.2 GHz | 4.1 GHz+86% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 3.9 GHz+77% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1024 kB+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,501 | 1,511 |
Memory & Platform
The Celeron 2970M uses the PGA946 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A6-6400K uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR3L-1600 on the Celeron 2970M versus 1866 on the A6-6400K — the A6-6400K supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 32 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM87,HM86 (Celeron 2970M) and FM2 (A6-6400K).
| Feature | Celeron 2970M | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA946 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3L-1600 | 1866+62100% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+104857500% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the A6-6400K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Celeron 2970M) vs true (A6-6400K). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Haswell) (Celeron 2970M) and Radeon HD 8470D (A6-6400K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron 2970M targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron 2970M rivals Pentium 2020M; A6-6400K rivals Pentium G3258.
| Feature | Celeron 2970M | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics (Haswell) | Radeon HD 8470D |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | true |
| Target Use | Budget | — |
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