AMD A6-9400 vs AMD Ryzen 3 2200U Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into very different roles. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U takes the only direct head-to-head victory in the shared Cinebench R15 multi-core test, scoring 312 against the A6-9400's 232. That is a 34.5% advantage, a decisive margin that shows the Ryzen part handles heavily threaded workloads with far more authority.

The AMD A6-9400, by contrast, has no recorded head-to-head benchmark wins against the Ryzen 3 2200U. Its benchmark portfolio covers newer test suites, including Cinebench R20 and R23, where it posts scores of 969 multi-core and 326 single-core in R23, but these cannot be directly compared to the Ryzen part because the Ryzen 3 2200U was not measured in those same tests. The data shows the A6-9400 is a functional desktop chip for everyday tasks, yet it does not outscore the Ryzen 3 2200U anywhere they share a common benchmark.

For single-threaded workloads, the A6-9400 has a higher boost clock at 3.70 GHz versus 3.40 GHz, and its base clock of 3.40 GHz exceeds the Ryzen's 2.50 GHz. Those clock advantages suggest it should feel snappier in lightly threaded applications, but the recorded benchmarks do not include a shared single-core test to confirm this. The Ryzen 3 2200U instead relies on its architectural efficiency and simultaneous multithreading to dominate the one benchmark where both were measured.

The overall average benchmark score favors the Ryzen 3 2200U at 805, narrowly ahead of the A6-9400's 794. That difference is small, roughly 1.4%, but it reflects the Ryzen's stronger showing in the shared workload. In the database's percentile rankings, the Ryzen 3 2200U sits at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs, while the A6-9400 sits at the 21st percentile. These are adjacent performance tiers, meaning neither processor is a class leader, but the Ryzen holds a slight statistical edge.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from fundamentally different AMD design eras. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses the Zen architecture under the Raven Ridge codename, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 4,950 million transistors onto a 210 mm² die. The A6-9400 uses the older Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, on a 28 nm process, also from GlobalFoundries. That chip contains 3,100 million transistors on a larger 250 mm² die, meaning the Ryzen fits roughly 60% more transistors into a smaller area.

Core and thread counts differ significantly. The Ryzen 3 2200U offers 2 cores and 4 threads, using simultaneous multithreading to process four instruction streams on two physical cores. The A6-9400 has 2 cores and 2 threads, with no multithreading support. This explains the Ryzen's multi-core advantage in the shared Cinebench R15 test, as it can keep both cores busier with parallel work.

Cache layouts are also distinct. The Ryzen 3 2200U employs a three-level hierarchy: 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A6-9400 uses a simpler two-level design: 160 KB of L1 and 1 MB of shared L2, with no L3 cache at all. The Ryzen's larger and deeper cache structure gives it a meaningful advantage in workloads that reuse data frequently.

The integrated graphics differ as well. The Ryzen 3 2200U pairs its CPU cores with Radeon Vega 3 graphics, while the A6-9400 carries Radeon R5 graphics. Both support DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and both use PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes. Neither supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Market positioning separates them further. The Ryzen 3 2200U is a mobile processor on the AMD Socket FP5, with a 15 W TDP, designed for laptops and compact systems. The A6-9400 is a desktop processor on AMD Socket AM4, with a 65 W TDP, intended for full-size desktop builds. The Ryzen's 15 W power envelope is dramatically lower than the A6's 65 W, yet it still delivers superior multi-core performance in the shared test. The A6-9400 launched later in March 2019, while the Ryzen 3 2200U arrived in January 2018, though both remain in active production according to the database.

The Verdict

The data points to the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U as the stronger overall processor for anyone who values multi-threaded performance. Its 34.5% lead over the A6-9400 in Cinebench R15 multi-core is the clearest signal in the entire comparison. That margin comes from a combination of Zen's superior instruction efficiency, a larger cache hierarchy, and simultaneous multithreading, all while drawing just 15 W of power compared to the A6's 65 W.

The A6-9400 is not without its own merits. Its higher base and boost clocks, 3.40 GHz and 3.70 GHz respectively, could translate to better responsiveness in single-threaded tasks, though no shared benchmark confirms this. It also benefits from a desktop socket, AM4, which may offer more upgrade flexibility in a full desktop system, and its later release date means it has been on the market more recently. However, the recorded benchmarks do not show it winning any shared test against the Ryzen 3 2200U.

For a laptop or low-power system, the Ryzen 3 2200U is the obvious choice. Its 15 W TDP makes it suitable for thin-and-light designs, and its multi-core performance outclasses the A6-9400 despite the massive power disadvantage. For a desktop build where power consumption is less critical, the A6-9400 still offers a viable entry point, but the data suggests it is an older architecture fighting a losing battle in raw throughput. The Ryzen 3 2200U wins the performance crown based on the recorded evidence.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has better multi-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 3 2200U scores 312 in Cinebench R15 multi-core, which is 34.5% higher than the A6-9400's 232 in the same test.

Q: Do both processors support the same memory?

A: Yes, both support DDR4 memory over a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth, and neither supports ECC memory.

Q: Which chip has more threads?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U has 4 threads across 2 cores, while the A6-9400 has 2 threads across 2 cores.

Q: What are the power consumption differences?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U has a 15 W TDP, while the A6-9400 has a 65 W TDP. The Ryzen delivers higher multi-core performance at less than a quarter of the power draw.

Q: Are these processors in the same performance tier?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U sits at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 805, while the A6-9400 sits at the 21st percentile with 794. They are adjacent tiers, but the Ryzen holds the edge.

Q: Which processor has a larger cache?

A: The Ryzen 3 2200U has 96 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The A6-9400 has 160 KB of L1 and 1 MB of shared L2, with no L3 cache.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct head-to-head benchmark in the database is Cinebench R15 multi-core, and it tells a compelling story. The Ryzen 3 2200U scores 312, beating the A6-9400's 232 by 34.5%. This is a substantial gap, not a marginal one. In practical terms, the Ryzen completes multi-threaded render or encoding tasks noticeably faster, and it does so while consuming far less power, 15 W versus 65 W.

The Ryzen's victory in this test is consistent with its architectural advantages. The Zen core design, with its 4 MB of shared L3 cache and 512 KB of L2 per core, gives it a memory hierarchy that the Excavator-based A6 simply cannot match. The A6's 1 MB of shared L2, with no L3, forces it to rely more heavily on slower main memory accesses. Combined with the Ryzen's 4 threads versus the A6's 2 threads, the multi-core result makes sense.

The A6-9400 does have its own benchmark results in newer suites, but they lack a comparison point. Its Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 969, R20 single-core score of 136, R23 multi-core score of 2309, and R23 single-core score of 326 are all recorded, but the Ryzen 3 2200U was not tested in those same workloads. Without shared tests, those numbers cannot be used to establish a winner. The database only records a single head-to-head result, and the Ryzen 3 2200U wins it.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Ryzen 3 2200U uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process, while the A6-9400 uses Excavator on a 28 nm process. The Ryzen's die measures 210 mm² and contains 4,950 million transistors; the A6's die measures 250 mm² and contains 3,100 million transistors. The Ryzen is built for mobile on Socket FP5 with a 15 W TDP, whereas the A6 is a desktop part on Socket AM4 with a 65 W TDP.

Clock speeds favor the A6-9400. Its base clock is 3.40 GHz and its boost clock is 3.70 GHz, compared to the Ryzen's 2.50 GHz base and 3.40 GHz boost. The A6 also has more L1 cache at 160 KB versus the Ryzen's 96 KB per core, but the Ryzen counters with a deeper L2 allocation of 512 KB per core and a 4 MB shared L3, while the A6 has only 1 MB of shared L2 and no L3.

Thread counts favor the Ryzen, which offers 4 threads versus the A6's 2. Integrated graphics differ, with Radeon Vega 3 on the Ryzen and Radeon R5 on the A6. Both use DDR4 memory on a dual-channel bus with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, both have PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes, and neither supports ECC memory or an unlocked multiplier. The Ryzen 3 2200U launched in January 2018, while the A6-9400 launched in March 2019, and both remain in active production. The part numbers are YM2200C4T2OFB for the Ryzen and AD9400AGABBOX for the A6.