Pentium E5500 vs A4-3420
Pentium E5500
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 E5500 is positioned at rank 913 and the A4-3420 is on rank 875, so the A4-3420 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5500
Performance Per Dollar A4-3420
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium E5500 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | Balanced gaming performance | Balanced gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Llano (2011−2012) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium E5500 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+20%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($25) | ⚠️ 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium E5500 and A4-3420
Pentium E5500
The Pentium E5500 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 April 2010 (15 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) 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: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,064 points. Launch price was $109.
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 E5500 and A4-3420 share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Pentium E5500 versus 2.8 GHz on the A4-3420 — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.8 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Pentium E5500 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the A4-3420 uses Llano (2011−2012) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E5500 scores 1,064 against the A4-3420's 1,067 — a 0.3% lead for the A4-3420. Both processors carry 0 kB of L3 cache.
| Feature | Pentium E5500 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 2.8 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 0 kB | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB (total)+300% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 45 nm | 32 nm-29% |
| Architecture | Wolfdale (2008−2010) | Llano (2011−2012) |
| PassMark | 1,064 | 1,067 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 300 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 500 |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium E5500 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the A4-3420 uses FM1 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Pentium E5500 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA775 | FM1 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 1.1 | PCIe 2.0+82% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR3-1600 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 32 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 16 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Pentium E5500) / AMD-V (A4-3420). The A4-3420 includes integrated graphics (Radeon HD 6410D), while the Pentium E5500 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: A4-3420 targets Entry Desktop. Direct competitor: A4-3420 rivals Pentium G630.
| Feature | Pentium E5500 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon HD 6410D |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | AMD-V |
| Target Use | — | Entry Desktop |
Value Analysis
The Pentium E5500 launched at $75 MSRP, while the A4-3420 debuted at $65. At current prices ($25 vs $30), the Pentium E5500 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Pentium E5500 delivers 42.6 pts/$ vs 35.6 pts/$ for the A4-3420 — making the Pentium E5500 the 17.9% better value option.
| Feature | Pentium E5500 | A4-3420 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75 | $65-13% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $25-17% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 42.6+20% | 35.6 |
| Release Date | 2010 | 2011 |
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