
Core 2 Duo T5600 vs A6-6400B

Core 2 Duo T5600

A6-6400B
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 Core 2 Duo T5600 is positioned at rank 1179 and the A6-6400B is on rank 655, so the A6-6400B offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core 2 Duo T5600
Performance Per Dollar A6-6400B
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | A6-6400B |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core 2 Duo T5600 | A6-6400B |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($241) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
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 Core 2 Duo T5600 and A6-6400B

Core 2 Duo T5600
The Core 2 Duo T5600 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 28 July 2006 (19 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.83 GHz, with boost up to 1.83 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 34 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 1,560 points. Launch price was $241.

A6-6400B
The A6-6400B 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. L2 cache: 1 MB (total). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 1,573 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
Both the Core 2 Duo T5600 and A6-6400B share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.83 GHz on the Core 2 Duo T5600 versus 4.1 GHz on the A6-6400B — a 76.6% clock advantage for the A6-6400B (base: 1.83 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the Merom (2006−2008) architecture (65 nm), while the A6-6400B uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core 2 Duo T5600 scores 1,560 against the A6-6400B's 1,573 — a 0.8% lead for the A6-6400B.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | A6-6400B |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.83 GHz | 4.1 GHz+124% |
| Base Clock | 1.83 GHz | 3.9 GHz+113% |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | — |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB (total) |
| Process | 65 nm | 32 nm-51% |
| Architecture | Merom (2006−2008) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,560 | 1,573 |
Memory & Platform
The Core 2 Duo T5600 uses the PGA478 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A6-6400B uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Core 2 Duo T5600 versus 1866 on the A6-6400B — the A6-6400B supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The A6-6400B supports up to 32 of RAM compared to 4 GB — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 0 (Core 2 Duo T5600) vs 16 (A6-6400B) — the A6-6400B offers 16 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: 945GM,945PM (Core 2 Duo T5600) and FM2 (A6-6400B).
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | A6-6400B |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA478 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 3.0+173% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | 1866+93200% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 4 GB+13107100% | 32 |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 0 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core 2 Duo T5600) / true (A6-6400B). The A6-6400B includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8470D), while the Core 2 Duo T5600 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A6-6400B rivals Pentium G3220.
| Feature | Core 2 Duo T5600 | A6-6400B |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8470D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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