Core i3-6100T vs A12-9800
Core i3-6100T
A12-9800
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 i3-6100T is positioned at rank 581 and the A12-9800 is on rank 345, so the A12-9800 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-6100T
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-6100T | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-6100T | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($20) | ✅ 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 i3-6100T and A12-9800
Core i3-6100T
The Core i3-6100T is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 September 2015 (10 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1866/2133, DDR3L-1333/1600. Passmark benchmark score: 3,641 points. Launch price was $117.
A12-9800
The A12-9800 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 27 July 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 4.2 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. 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: 3,695 points. Launch price was $139.
Processing Power
The Core i3-6100T packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9800 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9800 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-6100T versus 4.2 GHz on the A12-9800 — a 27% clock advantage for the A12-9800 (base: 3.2 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i3-6100T uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the A12-9800 uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-6100T scores 3,641 against the A12-9800's 3,695 — a 1.5% lead for the A12-9800. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,041 vs 635, a 48.4% lead for the Core i3-6100T that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-6100T vs 0 kB on the A12-9800.
| Feature | Core i3-6100T | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 4.2 GHz+31% |
| Base Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.8 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 2048 kB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm-50% | 28 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 3,641 | 3,695+1% |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 2,500 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,041+64% | 635 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 2,071 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-6100T uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A12-9800 uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2133 memory speed. Both support up to 64 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i3-6100T) vs 8 (A12-9800) — the Core i3-6100T offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: H110,B150,H170,Z170 (Core i3-6100T) and A320,B350,X370 (A12-9800).
| Feature | Core i3-6100T | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2133 | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Neither processor supports overclocking. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d (Core i3-6100T) vs AMD-V (A12-9800). Both include integrated graphics — HD Graphics 530 (Core i3-6100T) and Radeon R7 (A12-9800) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-6100T targets Budget, A12-9800 targets Budget. Direct competitor: A12-9800 rivals Pentium G4600.
| Feature | Core i3-6100T | A12-9800 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | HD Graphics 530 | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | No | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Budget | Budget |
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