Core i3-530 vs A6-6400K
Core i3-530
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 Core i3-530 is positioned at rank 933 and the A6-6400K is on rank 688, so the A6-6400K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-530
Performance Per Dollar A6-6400K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-530 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-530 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($15) | ✅ 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 i3-530 and A6-6400K
Core i3-530
The Core i3-530 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 7 January 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.93 GHz, with boost up to 0.93 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 256 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 73 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,516 points. Launch price was $60.
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
The Core i3-530 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A6-6400K's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 0.93 GHz on the Core i3-530 versus 4.1 GHz on the A6-6400K — a 126% clock advantage for the A6-6400K (base: 2.93 GHz vs 3.9 GHz). The Core i3-530 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A6-6400K uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-530 scores 1,516 against the A6-6400K's 1,511 — a 0.3% lead for the Core i3-530. L3 cache: 4 MB (total) on the Core i3-530 vs 0 kB on the A6-6400K.
| Feature | Core i3-530 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 0.93 GHz | 4.1 GHz+341% |
| Base Clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.9 GHz+33% |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 1024 kB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 1,516 | 1,511 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-530 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A6-6400K uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-530 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-530) / true (A6-6400K). The A6-6400K includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8470D), while the Core i3-530 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A6-6400K rivals Pentium G3258.
| Feature | Core i3-530 | A6-6400K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8470D |
| Unlocked | — | Yes |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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