AMD A10-6800K vs AMD A6-9400 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data for these two AMD processors comes from different test suites, which makes a direct same-test comparison impossible. The AMD A10-6800K was evaluated with Geekbench, while the AMD A6-9400 was tested with Cinebench. However, the average benchmark scores offer a useful starting point. The A10-6800K records an average benchmark score of 809, while the A6-9400 sits at 794. That is a difference of 15 points, or roughly 1.9 percent in favor of the older chip. In percentile terms, the A10-6800K ranks at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, while the A6-9400 ranks at the 21st percentile. Both processors sit near the lower end of the performance spectrum, but the A10-6800K holds a slight edge in aggregate scoring.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the A10-6800K, the data shows it is essentially tied with the Intel Core i7-870S, which also averages 809 points, a zero percent delta. The AMD Athlon X4 850 and Intel Xeon X5482 both score 806 and 805 respectively, putting them 0.4 percent behind the A10-6800K. The Intel Core i7-5550U scores 813, which is 0.5 percent ahead. These are extremely tight margins, indicating that the A10-6800K performs in a narrow band near several older desktop and mobile parts.

For the A6-9400, the nearest rival is the AMD A10-5800B, which matches its average score of 794, a delta of 0.1 percent. The AMD A10-7850K scores 796, 0.3 percent ahead, and the AMD Ryzen Embedded R1606G also scores 797, 0.3 percent ahead. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 scores 790, 0.5 percent behind. The A6-9400 thus lands in a similar performance cluster, with no rival more than half a percent away in either direction.

In the Geekbench tests, the A10-6800K posts a multi-core score of 1140 and a single-core score of 478. The multi-core result is more than double the single-core result, which reflects its four physical cores and four threads. The single-core score of 478 is modest by modern standards, but the multi-core figure shows that the chip can leverage all of its cores effectively in threaded workloads. The Cinebench results for the A6-9400 show a different pattern. Its Cinebench R15 multi-core score is 232, while the R20 multi-core score is 969 and the R20 single-core score is 136. The R23 multi-core score reaches 2309, with a single-core score of 326. The ratio between R23 multi-core and single-core is roughly 7 to 1, which is unusually high. That suggests the A6-9400's two cores are each relatively weak on a per-thread basis, but the chip still scales well when both cores are engaged.

The A10-6800K wins the overall average benchmark comparison by a narrow margin, but the A6-9400 has the advantage in raw memory bandwidth, listed at 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s for the A10-6800K. The A6-9400 also supports faster DDR4 memory, while the A10-6800K is limited to DDR3. In practical terms, the A10-6800K is the stronger performer in the database's aggregate scoring, but the A6-9400 is not far behind, and it uses significantly less power, with a TDP of 65 watts versus 100 watts for the A10-6800K.

The head-to-head benchmark array in the database is empty, meaning no direct comparison tests were run between these two specific models. The available data therefore relies on their respective benchmark suites and average scores. The A10-6800K's Geekbench results indicate a processor that handles multi-threaded tasks reasonably well for its era, while the A6-9400's Cinebench results show a chip that can scale strongly across cores despite a low single-thread baseline. The average scores, 809 versus 794, put the A10-6800K ahead by 1.9 percent, which is within the margin of error for most real-world workloads.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD A10-6800K is the better choice for users who prioritize raw multi-core performance in legacy applications. Its Geekbench multi-core score of 1140 is nearly 2.4 times its single-core score of 478, showing that its four cores are effective in parallel workloads. The A6-9400, by contrast, shows a much larger scaling factor in Cinebench, but its absolute scores are lower across the board. The average benchmark score of 809 for the A10-6800K versus 794 for the A6-9400 confirms this ordering.

However, the A6-9400 has clear advantages in efficiency and platform modernity. Its TDP of 65 watts is 35 watts lower than the A10-6800K's 100 watts, which means less heat output and potentially lower cooling requirements. The A6-9400 also supports DDR4 memory with a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, compared to the A10-6800K's DDR3 and 34.1 GB/s. The A6-9400 uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform, which is a more recent socket, while the A10-6800K uses the older AMD Socket FM2.

For a user building a new system from available parts, the A6-9400 makes more sense if power efficiency and memory bandwidth matter more than raw compute. Its active production status means it is still available, whereas the A10-6800K is end-of-life. For a user who already has an FM2 motherboard and DDR3 memory, the A10-6800K is the stronger performer in the database's aggregate metrics. The A10-6800K also has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking, while the A6-9400 does not. That feature could narrow or widen the performance gap depending on the user's cooling setup.

The percentile rankings are nearly identical, 22nd versus 21st, so neither chip is a standout in the broader CPU landscape. The verdict from the data is straightforward: the A10-6800K wins on raw performance, the A6-9400 wins on efficiency and platform longevity. Users with an existing FM2 platform should stick with the A10-6800K. Users starting fresh or prioritizing lower power draw should choose the A6-9400.

Architecture Differences

The A10-6800K is built on the Piledriver architecture with the codename Richland, while the A6-9400 uses the Excavator architecture with the codename Bristol Ridge. These are two distinct microarchitectures from AMD, separated by several years of development. The A10-6800K uses a 32 nm process node, while the A6-9400 uses a 28 nm node, both manufactured by GlobalFoundries. The smaller node for the A6-9400 contributes to its lower TDP of 65 watts despite having more transistors.

The transistor counts differ significantly. The A10-6800K has 1,303 million transistors on a die size of 246 mm². The A6-9400 has 3,100 million transistors on a die size of 250 mm². That is more than double the transistor count on nearly the same die area, which reflects the denser 28 nm process. The A6-9400 packs far more logic into the same physical footprint.

Cache configurations also differ. The A10-6800K has a level 1 cache of 192 KB and a level 2 cache of 4 MB. The A6-9400 has a smaller L1 cache of 160 KB and a shared L2 cache of 1 MB. Neither processor has a level 3 cache. The A10-6800K's larger L2 cache of 4 MB versus 1 MB gives it a notable advantage in cache-sensitive workloads, which likely contributes to its higher average benchmark score.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The A10-6800K features the Radeon HD 8670D, while the A6-9400 features the Radeon R5. The A10-6800K's graphics solution is part of the Richland generation, and the A6-9400's is part of the Bristol Ridge generation. Both are integrated into the CPU package, but the database does not provide graphics benchmark scores for either.

The A10-6800K supports PCIe Gen 2, while the A6-9400 supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 lanes for the CPU. This is a meaningful architectural difference for systems with discrete graphics or NVMe storage, as PCIe Gen 3 offers double the bandwidth per lane compared to Gen 2. The A6-9400 also supports DDR4 memory, while the A10-6800K is limited to DDR3. The memory bus is dual-channel for both, but the A6-9400 achieves a higher memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s.

Neither processor supports ECC memory. The A10-6800K has an unlocked multiplier, while the A6-9400 does not. The A10-6800K's socket is AMD Socket FM2, and the A6-9400 uses AMD Socket AM4. These sockets are not cross-compatible, so a motherboard designed for one will not accept the other.

Specification Differences

The specifications that differ between the two processors are numerous. The core count is 4 for the A10-6800K and 2 for the A6-9400. Threads are 4 and 2 respectively, with no hyper-threading or SMT on either chip. The base clock is 4.10 GHz for the A10-6800K and 3.40 GHz for the A6-9400. The boost clock is 4.40 GHz for the A10-6800K and 3.70 GHz for the A6-9400. The A10-6800K runs at higher frequencies in both states.

TDP is 100 watts for the A10-6800K and 65 watts for the A6-9400. The socket is FM2 for the A10-6800K and AM4 for the A6-9400. The architecture and codename differ as noted, and the process node is 32 nm versus 28 nm. Transistor count is 1,303 million versus 3,100 million, and die size is 246 mm² versus 250 mm².

Cache differs in both L1 and L2. The A10-6800K has 192 KB of L1 and 4 MB of L2, while the A6-9400 has 160 KB of L1 and 1 MB of shared L2. Memory support is DDR3 for the A10-6800K and DDR4 for the A6-9400. Memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s versus 38.4 GB/s. PCIe support is Gen 2 for the A10-6800K and Gen 3 with 8 lanes for the A6-9400.

Integrated graphics are Radeon HD 8670D for the A10-6800K and Radeon R5 for the A6-9400. The production status is end-of-life for the A10-6800K and active for the A6-9400. The release dates are May 31, 2013 for the A10-6800K and March 15, 2019 for the A6-9400. The A10-6800K has a launch MSRP of $142, while the A6-9400 has no recorded launch MSRP in the database.

The multiplier is unlocked on the A10-6800K and locked on the A6-9400. The part numbers are AD680KWOHLBOXAD680KWOA44HL for the A10-6800K and AD9400AGABBOX for the A6-9400. The market segment for both is desktop. ECC memory support is false for both. Neither has an L3 cache or vCache 3D.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD A10-6800K has an average benchmark score of 809, while the AMD A6-9400 has an average score of 794. The A10-6800K is ahead by 15 points, or approximately 1.9 percent.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The A10-6800K has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the A6-9400 has 2 cores and 2 threads. Neither processor supports additional threading beyond its physical core count.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each chip?

A: The A10-6800K has a TDP of 100 watts, while the A6-9400 has a TDP of 65 watts. The A6-9400 draws 35 watts less under load.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD A6-9400 supports DDR4 memory with a bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD A10-6800K supports DDR3 memory with a bandwidth of 34.1 GB/s. Both use a dual-channel memory bus.

Q: Are the sockets compatible with each other?

A: No. The A10-6800K uses AMD Socket FM2, while the A6-9400 uses AMD Socket AM4. These sockets are not interchangeable, and each requires a corresponding motherboard.

Q: Which processor has an unlocked multiplier?

A: The AMD A10-6800K has an unlocked multiplier, allowing overclocking. The AMD A6-9400 has a locked multiplier, so its clock speeds cannot be adjusted in the same way.

Q: What is the production status of each processor?

A: The AMD A10-6800K is listed as end-of-life, while the AMD A6-9400 is listed as active production. The A10-6800K was released on May 31, 2013, and the A6-9400 was released on March 15, 2019.