Core i3-550 vs A4-6250J
Core i3-550
A4-6250J
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 i3-550 is positioned at rank 965 and the A4-6250J is on rank 643, so the A4-6250J offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-550
Performance Per Dollar A4-6250J
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-550 | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Clarkdale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Beema (2014) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-550 | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($5) | ✅ 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 i3-550 and A4-6250J
Core i3-550
The Core i3-550 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 30 May 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 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: 1,632 points. Launch price was $101.
A4-6250J
The A4-6250J is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Beema (2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2 GHz. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: FT3. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,619 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
The Core i3-550 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A4-6250J offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A4-6250J has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-550 versus 2 GHz on the A4-6250J — a 46.2% clock advantage for the Core i3-550. The Core i3-550 uses the Clarkdale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A4-6250J uses Beema (2014) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-550 scores 1,632 against the A4-6250J's 1,619 — a 0.8% lead for the Core i3-550. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 437 vs 208, a 71% lead for the Core i3-550 that directly translates to higher frame rates.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz+60% | 2 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256 kB (per core) | 2 MB (total)+700% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Clarkdale (2010−2011) | Beema (2014) |
| PassMark | 1,632 | 1,619 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 1,320 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 437+110% | 208 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 899 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-550 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A4-6250J uses FT3 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-1333 memory speed. Both support up to 16 GB of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core i3-550) vs 1 (A4-6250J). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-550) vs 8 (A4-6250J) — the Core i3-550 offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | FT3 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-1333 | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Core i3-550) vs AMD-V (A4-6250J). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Core i3-550) and Radeon R3 (A4-6250J) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-6250J targets Entry Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-6250J rivals Pentium J2900.
| Feature | Core i3-550 | A4-6250J |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics | Radeon R3 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Entry Desktop |
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