CPU
GPU
Pentium 3556U
A4-3420
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 Pentium 3556U is positioned at rank 253 and the A4-3420 is on rank 875, so the Pentium 3556U offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium 3556U
Performance Per Dollar A4-3420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium 3556U | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell (2013−2015) / 22 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium 3556U | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
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.
Counter-Strike 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium 3556U and A4-3420
Pentium 3556U
The Pentium 3556U is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.7 GHz, with boost up to 1.7 GHz. L3 cache: 2 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1168. Thermal design power (TDP): 15 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,072 points. Launch price was $69.
A4-3420
The A4-3420 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Llano (2011−2012) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM1. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,067 points. Launch price was $50.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium 3556U and A4-3420 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.7 GHz on the Pentium 3556U versus 2.8 GHz on the A4-3420 — a 48.9% clock advantage for the A4-3420 (base: 1.7 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Pentium 3556U uses the Haswell (2013−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the A4-3420 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium 3556U scores 1,072 against the A4-3420's 1,067 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium 3556U. L3 cache: 2 MB (total) on the Pentium 3556U vs 0 kB on the A4-3420.
| Feature | Pentium 3556U | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+65% |
| Base Clock | 1.7 GHz | 2.8 GHz+65% |
| L3 Cache | 2 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 512 kB (per core)+100% |
| Process | 22 nm-31% | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Haswell (2013−2015) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,072 | 1,067 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 500 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium 3556U uses the FCBGA1168 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the A4-3420 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium 3556U | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | FCBGA1168 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0+50% | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium 3556U) / AMD-V (A4-3420). The A4-3420 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6410D), while the Pentium 3556U requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-3420 targets Entry Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-3420 rivals Pentium G630.
| Feature | Pentium 3556U | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6410D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Entry Desktop |
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