Core i3-390M vs A4-5100
Core i3-390M
A4-5100
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 i3-390M is positioned at rank 585 and the A4-5100 is on rank 842, so the Core i3-390M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-390M
Performance Per Dollar A4-5100
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-390M | A4-5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Kabini (2013−2014) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-390M | A4-5100 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Core i3-390M and A4-5100
Core i3-390M
The Core i3-390M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 0.67 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,292 points. Launch price was $39.
A4-5100
The A4-5100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Kabini (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.55 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,301 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i3-390M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A4-5100 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A4-5100 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 0.67 GHz on the Core i3-390M versus 1.55 GHz on the A4-5100 — a 79.3% clock advantage for the A4-5100. The Core i3-390M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-5100 uses Kabini (2013−2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-390M scores 1,292 against the A4-5100's 1,301 — a 0.7% lead for the A4-5100.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | A4-5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 0.67 GHz | 1.55 GHz+131% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 2048 kB+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Kabini (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,292 | 1,301 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 165 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-390M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-5100 uses FT3 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1066 memory speed. The A4-5100 supports up to 16 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-390M) vs 1 (A4-5100). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-390M) vs 8 (A4-5100) — the Core i3-390M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | A4-5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | FT3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1066 | DDR3L-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x (Core i3-390M) vs AMD-V (A4-5100). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics (Core i3-390M) and Radeon HD 8330 (A4-5100) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-390M targets Mobile, A4-5100 targets Entry Laptop. Direct competitor: A4-5100 rivals Pentium N3540.
| Feature | Core i3-390M | A4-5100 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics | Radeon HD 8330 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Mobile | Entry Laptop |
Top Performing CPUs
The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar CPU comparisons based on Core i3-390M and A4-5100
