Steam Deck OLED APU vs Core i5-6442EQ
Steam Deck OLED APU
Core i5-6442EQ
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 Steam Deck OLED APU is positioned at rank 827 and the Core i5-6442EQ is on rank 843, 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 Steam Deck OLED APU
Performance Per Dollar Core i5-6442EQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Steam Deck OLED APU | Core i5-6442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) / 6 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Steam Deck OLED APU | Core i5-6442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($250) |
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 Steam Deck OLED APU and Core i5-6442EQ
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.
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.
Processing Power
The Steam Deck OLED APU packs 4 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i5-6442EQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.5 GHz on the Steam Deck OLED APU versus 1.9 GHz on the Core i5-6442EQ — a 59.3% clock advantage for the Steam Deck OLED APU. The Steam Deck OLED APU uses the Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) architecture (6 nm), while the Core i5-6442EQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Steam Deck OLED APU scores 4,457 against the Core i5-6442EQ's 4,483 — a 0.6% lead for the Core i5-6442EQ. L3 cache: 4 MB on the Steam Deck OLED APU vs 6 MB on the Core i5-6442EQ.
| Feature | Steam Deck OLED APU | Core i5-6442EQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 4 / 4 |
| Boost Clock | 3.5 GHz+84% | 1.9 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.4 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 6 MB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+100% | 1 MB |
| Process | 6 nm-57% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Van Gogh (Custom) (2023) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 4,457 | 4,483 |
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The most powerful cpus ranked by PassMark CPU Mark benchmark scores.
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