Core i3-4030U vs PRO A6-9500

Core i3-4030U vs PRO A6-9500 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-4030U

2 / 4

1,876

+0.2%

1,873

0.0%

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7955WX

Ryzen Threadripper 3990X

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.

Core i3-4030U vs PRO A6-9500 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with GeForce RTX 5090 to isolate CPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

Core i3-4030U vs PRO A6-9500: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each CPU makes more sense in practice: gaming, heavier work, platform cost, power draw, and upgrade path.

Core i3-4030U

2014

Why buy it

✅+0.2% higher PassMark.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than PRO A6-9500 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Launch MSRP is still $281 MSRP, while PRO A6-9500 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.
❌687.7% higher power demand at 512W vs 65W.

PRO A6-9500

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +3.1% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅Draws 65W instead of 512W, a 447W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (1,873 vs 1,876).

Quick Answers

So, is PRO A6-9500 better than Core i3-4030U?

It depends on what you want from the system. For gaming, PRO A6-9500 is ahead with a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. For rendering, compiling, streaming, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4030U pulls ahead with 0.2% better PassMark.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i3-4030U is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.2% better PassMark, backed by 2 cores and 4 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

PRO A6-9500 is the easy recommendation for a fresh desktop build. PRO A6-9500 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $281 MSRP, and it still gives you a 3.1% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-4030U only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop chip, not because it is a real desktop gaming recommendation. It simply does not keep up in modern games, especially when the gap is already 3.1% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

PRO A6-9500 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2014). That makes it the safer long-term bet.

Core i3-4030U vs PRO A6-9500 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

Core i3-4030U

The Core i3-4030U 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 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.9 GHz, with boost up to 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,876 points. Launch price was $281.

PRO A6-9500

The PRO A6-9500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 3 October 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L2 cache: 1024 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 1,873 points. Launch price was $69.

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Processing Power

The Core i3-4030U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the PRO A6-9500's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Core i3-4030U versus 3.8 GHz on the PRO A6-9500 — a 66.7% clock advantage for the PRO A6-9500 (base: 1.9 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i3-4030U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the PRO A6-9500 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-4030U scores 1,876 against the PRO A6-9500's 1,873 — a 0.2% lead for the Core i3-4030U.

Feature	Core i3-4030U	PRO A6-9500
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	2 / 2
Boost Clock	1.9 GHz	3.8 GHz+100%
Base Clock	1.9 GHz	3.5 GHz+84%
L3 Cache	3 MB	—
L2 Cache	512 kB	1024 kB+100%
Process	22 nm-21%	28 nm
Architecture	Haswell (2013−2015)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	1,876	1,873

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Memory & Platform

The Core i3-4030U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the PRO A6-9500 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.