Core i7-6600U vs A12-9800E
Core i7-6600U
A12-9800E
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 i7-6600U is positioned at rank 925 and the A12-9800E is on rank 1029, so the Core i7-6600U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6600U
Performance Per Dollar A12-9800E
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i7-6600U | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i7-6600U | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
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 i7-6600U and A12-9800E
Core i7-6600U
The Core i7-6600U 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 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB. L2 cache: 512 kB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1356. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 3,407 points. Launch price was $393.
A12-9800E
The A12-9800E 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 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2048 kB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 3,416 points. Launch price was $105.
Processing Power
The Core i7-6600U packs 2 cores / 4 threads, while the A12-9800E offers 4 cores / 4 threads — the A12-9800E has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.4 GHz on the Core i7-6600U versus 3.8 GHz on the A12-9800E — a 11.1% clock advantage for the A12-9800E (base: 2.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). The Core i7-6600U uses the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture (14 nm), while the A12-9800E uses Bristol Ridge (2016−2019) (28 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-6600U scores 3,407 against the A12-9800E's 3,416 — a 0.3% lead for the A12-9800E. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Core i7-6600U vs 0 kB on the A12-9800E.
| Feature | Core i7-6600U | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 4 / 4+100% |
| Boost Clock | 3.4 GHz | 3.8 GHz+12% |
| Base Clock | 2.6 GHz | 3.1 GHz+19% |
| L3 Cache | 4 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 | 3,407 | 3,416 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 651 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i7-6600U uses the BGA1356 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A12-9800E uses AM4 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i7-6600U | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1356 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2400 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 8 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Core i7-6600U) / AMD-V (A12-9800E). The A12-9800E includes integrated graphics (Radeon R7), while the Core i7-6600U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A12-9800E targets Low Power. Direct competitor: A12-9800E rivals Pentium G4600T.
| Feature | Core i7-6600U | A12-9800E |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R7 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Low Power |
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