Core i3-7020U vs A8-6500
Core i3-7020U
A8-6500
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 i3-7020U is positioned at rank 70 and the A8-6500 is on rank 474, so the Core i3-7020U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-7020U
Performance Per Dollar A8-6500
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-7020U | A8-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Kaby Lake (2016−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Richland (2013−2014) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-7020U | A8-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | Equivalent pricing | Equivalent pricing |
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 i3-7020U and A8-6500
Core i3-7020U
The Core i3-7020U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 10 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.3 GHz, with boost up to 2.3 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: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 2,567 points. Launch price was $281.
A8-6500
The A8-6500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Richland (2013−2014) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 4096 kB. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 2,598 points. Launch price was $90.
Processing Power
The Core i3-7020U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A8-6500 offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A8-6500 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.3 GHz on the Core i3-7020U versus 4.1 GHz on the A8-6500 — a 56.3% clock advantage for the A8-6500 (base: 2.3 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i3-7020U uses the Kaby Lake (2016−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the A8-6500 uses Richland (2013−2014) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-7020U scores 2,567 against the A8-6500's 2,598 — a 1.2% lead for the A8-6500. L3 cache: 3 MB on the Core i3-7020U vs 0 kB on the A8-6500.
| Feature | Core i3-7020U | A8-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 2.3 GHz | 4.1 GHz+78% |
| Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 3.5 GHz+52% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB | 4096 kB+700% |
| Process | 14 nm-56% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Kaby Lake (2016−2019) | Richland (2013−2014) |
| PassMark | 2,567 | 2,598+1% |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-7020U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A8-6500 uses FM2 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-7020U | A8-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i3-7020U) / true (A8-6500). The A8-6500 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 8570D), while the Core i3-7020U requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A8-6500 rivals Core i3-4130.
| Feature | Core i3-7020U | A8-6500 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 8570D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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