Core i5-480M vs A6-9225
Core i5-480M
A6-9225
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 i5-480M is positioned at rank 6 and the A6-9225 is on rank 830, so the Core i5-480M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-480M
Performance Per Dollar A6-9225
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-480M | A6-9225 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-480M | A6-9225 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) | ✅ 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 i5-480M and A6-9225
Core i5-480M
The Core i5-480M is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 9 January 2011 (14 years ago). It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.66 GHz, with boost up to 2.93 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: PGA988. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,327 points. Launch price was $81.
A6-9225
The A6-9225 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.1 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,334 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Core i5-480M packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A6-9225's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.93 GHz on the Core i5-480M versus 3.1 GHz on the A6-9225 — a 5.6% clock advantage for the A6-9225 (base: 2.66 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i5-480M uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A6-9225 uses Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-480M scores 1,327 against the A6-9225's 1,334 — a 0.5% lead for the A6-9225.
| Feature | Core i5-480M | A6-9225 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.93 GHz | 3.1 GHz+6% |
| Base Clock | 2.66 GHz+2% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | — |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,327 | 1,334 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i5-480M uses the PGA988 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A6-9225 uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches 1066 on the Core i5-480M versus DDR4-2133 on the A6-9225 — the Core i5-480M supports 198.5% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 8 of RAM. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-480M) vs 1 (A6-9225). PCIe lanes: 16 (Core i5-480M) vs 8 (A6-9225) — the Core i5-480M offers 8 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: HM55,HM57,QM57 (Core i5-480M) and AMD BGA soldered (A6-9225).
| Feature | Core i5-480M | A6-9225 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | PGA988 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | 1066+26550% | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 | 8 GB+104857500% |
| RAM Channels | 2+100% | 1 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16+100% | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: true (Core i5-480M) / not specified (A6-9225). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Core i5-480M) and AMD Radeon R4 (A6-9225) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i5-480M rivals AMD Turion II M620.
| Feature | Core i5-480M | A6-9225 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | AMD Radeon R4 |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | true | — |
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