Core i3-6006U vs Athlon II X4 638
Core i3-6006U
Athlon II X4 638
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 i3-6006U is positioned at rank 370 and the Athlon II X4 638 is on rank 1040, so the Core i3-6006U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6006U
Performance Per Dollar Athlon II X4 638
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-6006U | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-6006U | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($280) |
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 i3-6006U and Athlon II X4 638
Core i3-6006U
The Core i3-6006U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 November 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,273 points. Launch price was $281.
Athlon II X4 638
The Athlon II X4 638 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2009-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 2,260 points. Launch price was $149.
Processing Power
The Core i3-6006U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the Athlon II X4 638 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the Athlon II X4 638 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2 GHz on the Core i3-6006U versus 2.7 GHz on the Athlon II X4 638 — a 29.8% clock advantage for the Athlon II X4 638 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.7 GHz). The Core i3-6006U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6006U scores 2,273 against the Athlon II X4 638's 2,260 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i3-6006U. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-6006U vs 0 kB on the Athlon II X4 638.
| Feature | Core i3-6006U | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2 GHz | 2.7 GHz+35% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.7 GHz+35% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 1 MB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 2,273 | 2,260 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 2,200 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 630 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 1,313 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-6006U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Athlon II X4 638 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-2133 on the Core i3-6006U versus DDR3-1866 on the Athlon II X4 638 — the Core i3-6006U supports 28.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Athlon II X4 638 supports up to 64 GB of RAM compared to 32 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 12 (Core i3-6006U) vs 16 (Athlon II X4 638) — the Athlon II X4 638 offers 4 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Skylake-U (Core i3-6006U) and AMD FM1 (Athlon II X4 638).
| Feature | Core i3-6006U | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133+33% | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB | 64 GB+100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 12 | 16+33% |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: Yes (Core i3-6006U) / not specified (Athlon II X4 638). The Core i3-6006U includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 520), while the Athlon II X4 638 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6006U targets Mobile.
| Feature | Core i3-6006U | Athlon II X4 638 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | No |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 520 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | Yes | — |
| Target Use | Mobile | — |
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