Core i5-6442EQ vs Steam Deck OLED APU
Core i5-6442EQ
Steam Deck OLED APU
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 i5-6442EQ is positioned at rank 843 and the Steam Deck OLED APU is on rank 827, so the Steam Deck OLED APU offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6442EQ
Performance Per Dollar Steam Deck OLED APU
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i5-6442EQ | Steam Deck OLED APU |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) / 6 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i5-6442EQ | Steam Deck OLED APU |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) | ✅ 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 i5-6442EQ and Steam Deck OLED APU
Core i5-6442EQ
The Core i5-6442EQ 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 4 cores and 4 threads. Max frequency: 1.9 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 25 Watt. Passmark benchmark score: 4,483 points. Launch price was $250.
Steam Deck OLED APU
The Steam Deck OLED APU is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 9 November 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB. Built on 6 nm process technology. Thermal design power (TDP): 2 MB + 4 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,457 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Core i5-6442EQ packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Steam Deck OLED APU's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 1.9 GHz on the Core i5-6442EQ versus 3.5 GHz on the Steam Deck OLED APU — a 59.3% clock advantage for the Steam Deck OLED APU. The Core i5-6442EQ uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the Steam Deck OLED APU uses Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) (6 nm). In PassMark, the Core i5-6442EQ scores 4,483 against the Steam Deck OLED APU's 4,457 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-6442EQ. L3 cache: 6 MB on the Core i5-6442EQ vs 4 MB on the Steam Deck OLED APU.
| Feature | Core i5-6442EQ | Steam Deck OLED APU |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 1.9 GHz | 3.5 GHz+84% |
| Base Clock | — | 2.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB+50% | 4 MB |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
| Process | 14 nm | 6 nm-57% |
| Architecture | Skylake (2015−2016) | Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) |
| PassMark | 4,483 | 4,457 |
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