
Xeon L3406 vs A9-9420e

Xeon L3406

A9-9420e
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 Xeon L3406 is positioned at rank 969 and the A9-9420e is on rank 833, so the A9-9420e offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon L3406
Performance Per Dollar A9-9420e
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon L3406 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Legacy / 32 nm) | ✨ Modern (Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) / 28 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon L3406 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($30) | ✅ 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon L3406 and A9-9420e

Xeon L3406
The Xeon L3406 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.26 GHz, with boost up to 2.53 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache. Built on 32 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1156. Thermal design power (TDP): 30 Watt. Memory support: DDR3-1066. Passmark benchmark score: 1,104 points. Launch price was $800.

A9-9420e
The A9-9420e is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 1 June 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Max frequency: 2.5 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 28 nm process technology. Socket: BGA. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 1,101 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Xeon L3406 packs 2 cores / 4 threads, matching the A9-9420e's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.53 GHz on the Xeon L3406 versus 2.5 GHz on the A9-9420e — a 1.2% clock advantage for the Xeon L3406. The A9-9420e is built on the Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) architecture. In PassMark, the Xeon L3406 scores 1,104 against the A9-9420e's 1,101 — a 0.3% lead for the Xeon L3406.
| Feature | Xeon L3406 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 2 / 4 | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.53 GHz+1% | 2.5 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.26 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB Intel® Smart Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | — | 1 MB |
| Process | 32 nm | 28 nm-13% |
| Architecture | — | Stoney Ridge (2016−2019) |
| PassMark | 1,104 | 1,101 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon L3406 uses the LGA1156 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the A9-9420e uses BGA (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon L3406 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1156 | BGA |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0+50% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | 2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 16 |
| RAM Channels | — | 1 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 4 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon L3406) / true (A9-9420e). The A9-9420e includes integrated graphics (Radeon R5 Graphics), while the Xeon L3406 requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: A9-9420e rivals Pentium N4200.
| Feature | Xeon L3406 | A9-9420e |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | Radeon R5 Graphics |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | true |
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