Core i3-6100E vs PRO A8-9600

Core i3-6100E vs PRO A8-9600 Performance Spectrum

Core i3-6100E

2 / 4

3,315

0.0%

3,318

+0.1%

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 i3-6100E vs PRO A8-9600 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 i3-6100E vs PRO A8-9600: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

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

Core i3-6100E

2015

Why buy it

✅Draws 35W instead of 65W, a 30W reduction.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (16 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Intel HD Graphics 530, while PRO A8-9600 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than PRO A8-9600 across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (3,315 vs 3,318).
❌Launch MSRP is still $225 MSRP, while PRO A8-9600 mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

PRO A8-9600

2016

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +4.9% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌85.7% higher power demand at 65W vs 35W.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i3-6100E can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is PRO A8-9600 better than Core i3-6100E?

Yes. PRO A8-9600 is the better all-around CPU here. It gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which is enough to make it the stronger overall pick.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, PRO A8-9600 is the better pick. According to our tests, it delivers 4.9% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

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

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, PRO A8-9600 is the stronger fit. You are getting 0.1% better PassMark, backed by 4 cores and 4 threads.

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

PRO A8-9600 is still the much better call for a fresh build. PRO A8-9600 comes in at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $225 MSRP, and it still gives you a 4.9% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i3-6100E only looks stronger on raw value math because it is extremely cheap, but that usually means used-market pricing on an obsolete 2015 platform. Even with 100.0% better value on paper (14.7 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), it really only makes sense as a cheap stopgap or a niche existing-platform option for someone already on that older platform.

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

PRO A8-9600 makes more sense long term for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2016 vs 2015) and more multi-core headroom with 4 cores / 4 threads instead of 2/4. That extra compute headroom is more likely to matter as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Core i3-6100E vs PRO A8-9600 Technical Specifications

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

Core i3-6100E

The Core i3-6100E is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 12 October 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: LPDDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 3,315 points. Launch price was $225.

PRO A8-9600

The PRO A8-9600 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,318 points. Launch price was $69.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i3-6100E packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the PRO A8-9600 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the PRO A8-9600 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Core i3-6100E versus 3.4 GHz on the PRO A8-9600 — a 23% clock advantage for the PRO A8-9600. The Core i3-6100E uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the PRO A8-9600 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6100E scores 3,315 against the PRO A8-9600's 3,318 — a 0.1% lead for the PRO A8-9600.

Feature	Core i3-6100E	PRO A8-9600
Cores / Threads	2 / 4	4 / 4+100%
Boost Clock	2.7 GHz	3.4 GHz+26%
Base Clock	—	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	3 MB	—
L2 Cache	512 kB	2048 kB+300%
Process	14 nm-50%	28 nm
Architecture	Skylake (2015−2016)	Bristol Ridge (2016−2019)
PassMark	3,315	3,318

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i3-6100E) / not specified (PRO A8-9600). The Core i3-6100E includes integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 530), while the PRO A8-9600 requires a dedicated GPU.