CPU
GPU
Pentium U5400
A6-5400K
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 U5400 is positioned at rank 1219 and the A6-5400K is on rank 765, so the A6-5400K offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Pentium U5400
Performance Per Dollar A6-5400K
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Pentium U5400 | A6-5400K |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($214) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Arrandale (2010−2011) / 32 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Trinity (2012−2013) / 32 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Pentium U5400 | A6-5400K |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($214) | ✅ 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.
Path of Exile 2
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Pentium U5400 and A6-5400K
Pentium U5400
The Pentium U5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 1.2 GHz, with boost up to 1.2 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1288. Thermal design power (TDP): 18 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,286 points. Launch price was $69.
A6-5400K
The A6-5400K is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 2014-01-01. It is based on the Trinity (2012−2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.8 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 1 MB (per core). Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: FM2. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,279 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
Both the Pentium U5400 and A6-5400K share an identical 2-core/2-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 1.2 GHz on the Pentium U5400 versus 3.8 GHz on the A6-5400K — a 104% clock advantage for the A6-5400K (base: 1.2 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Pentium U5400 uses the Arrandale (2010−2011) architecture (32 nm), while the A6-5400K uses Trinity (2012−2013) (32 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium U5400 scores 1,286 against the A6-5400K's 1,279 — a 0.5% lead for the Pentium U5400. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 170 vs 390, a 78.6% lead for the A6-5400K that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 3 MB (total) on the Pentium U5400 vs 0 kB on the A6-5400K.
| Feature | Pentium U5400 | A6-5400K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3.8 GHz+217% |
| Base Clock | 1.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz+200% |
| L3 Cache | 3 MB (total) | 0 kB |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB (per core)+300% |
| Process | 32 nm | 32 nm |
| Architecture | Arrandale (2010−2011) | Trinity (2012−2013) |
| PassMark | 1,286 | 1,279 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 170 | 390+129% |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 300 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Pentium U5400 uses the BGA1288 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A6-5400K uses FM2 (PCIe 2.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR3-800 memory speed. The A6-5400K supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 8 GB — 120% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM55 (Pentium U5400) and A55,A75,A85X,A88X (A6-5400K).
| Feature | Pentium U5400 | A6-5400K |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | BGA1288 | FM2 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 2.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR3-800 | DDR3-1866 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 8 GB | 32 GB+300% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 2 |
| ECC Support | ❌ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | 16 |
Advanced Features
Only the A6-5400K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x (Pentium U5400) vs AMD-V (A6-5400K). Both include integrated graphics — Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) (Pentium U5400) and Radeon HD 7540D (A6-5400K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Pentium U5400 targets Legacy Budget Laptop, A6-5400K targets Budget Desktop. Direct competitor: A6-5400K rivals Pentium G2120.
| Feature | Pentium U5400 | A6-5400K |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | Yes |
| IGPU Model | Intel HD Graphics (Ironlake) | Radeon HD 7540D |
| Unlocked | No | Yes |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | VT-x | AMD-V |
| Target Use | Legacy Budget Laptop | Budget Desktop |
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