AMD A6-9400 vs Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data paints a remarkably one-sided picture. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 wins all five recorded Cinebench comparisons against the AMD A6-9400. That is a clean sweep, though the margins are consistently narrow. The largest gap appears in Cinebench R15 multi-core, where the Intel part leads by 2.6%. The smallest is in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the advantage shrinks to 2.1%.

However, the overall database averages tell a slightly different story about positioning. The QX9775 holds an average benchmark score of 813, placing it at the 22nd percentile of all CPUs. The A6-9400 averages 794, sitting at the 21st percentile. The difference in percentile rank is minimal, suggesting both processors occupy a similar performance tier despite their architectural differences and the QX9775's consistent head-to-head wins.

When comparing to their nearest rivals, each chip's competitive context becomes clearer. The QX9775 is statistically tied with the Intel Core i7-5550U, which shares the exact same average score of 813. It also sits within 0.5% of the AMD A10-6800K, which scores 809. The A6-9400, meanwhile, is nearly identical to the AMD A10-5800B at 794 and trails the AMD A10-7850K by just 0.3%. The data suggests these two CPUs, despite being from different eras and design philosophies, end up in the same performance neighborhood for the workloads measured.

The practical takeaway is that neither chip has a decisive domain where it dominates. The Intel part wins every recorded test, but the deltas are all within a range that could be considered run-to-run variance in real-world conditions. The A6-9400 does not win any benchmark outright, so any use-case advantage it might have would come from features outside these specific Cinebench scores, such as integrated graphics or platform capabilities.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design eras. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 is built on the Core 2 architecture, codenamed Yorkfield, using a 45 nm process at Intel's foundry. It packs 820 million transistors across a die size of 2x 107 mm². The AMD A6-9400 uses the Excavator architecture, codenamed Bristol Ridge, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 28 nm process. It contains 3,100 million transistors on a single 250 mm² die.

Core and thread counts diverge sharply. The Intel chip offers 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD part provides only 2 cores and 2 threads. The QX9775's base clock is 3.20 GHz with no boost clock listed. The A6-9400 starts at 3.40 GHz and can boost to 3.70 GHz. Despite having half the cores, the AMD part's higher clocks help it stay competitive in these single-threaded and modestly threaded workloads.

Cache configurations also differ. The Intel processor has 64 KB of L1 cache per core and 6 MB of L2 cache per die. The AMD chip lists 160 KB of L1 cache total and 1 MB of shared L2 cache. Neither processor has any L3 cache. The Intel part's larger L2 cache is a notable advantage for repeated data access patterns.

Memory support is another major divergence. The QX9775 uses DDR2 memory, with the exact configuration depending on the motherboard. The A6-9400 uses DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration, offering a memory bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s. The AMD chip also supports PCIe Gen 3 with 8 CPU lanes, while the Intel part is limited to PCIe Gen 1. The A6-9400 includes integrated Radeon R5 graphics, whereas the QX9775 has no integrated graphics at all. ECC memory is supported on the Intel chip but not on the AMD part.

The Intel processor has an unlocked multiplier, while the AMD chip does not. The QX9775 carries a TDP of 150 W, more than double the A6-9400's 65 W. The Intel part was released in March 2008 and is end-of-life, while the AMD chip launched in March 2019 and remains active in production. The Intel chip's launch MSRP was $1499. The AMD part has no listed launch MSRP.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 is the faster processor. It wins every head-to-head benchmark, with margins ranging from 2.1% to 2.6%. The multi-core results are consistent: Cinebench R15 shows 238 versus 232, R20 shows 992 versus 969, and R23 shows 2363 versus 2309. The single-core results follow the same pattern, with 139 versus 136 in R20 and 333 versus 326 in R23.

However, the average benchmark scores tell a more nuanced story. The QX9775 averages 813 versus 794 for the A6-9400, a difference of roughly 2.4%. The percentile rankings, 22nd versus 21st, are essentially adjacent. Anyone choosing between these two should recognize that the performance gap is real but small.

The AMD A6-9400 offers advantages that the benchmark scores do not capture. It has integrated Radeon R5 graphics, which means a system built around it does not require a separate graphics card for basic display output. It also supports DDR4 memory with dual-channel bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s, and its 65 W TDP is far more power-efficient than the Intel part's 150 W TDP. The AMD chip is also actively in production, whereas the Intel processor is end-of-life.

The Intel QX9775, for its part, offers four physical cores and a much larger L2 cache. Its unlocked multiplier could appeal to users who plan to overclock, though the data does not include any overclocked results. Its ECC memory support is a feature that the AMD chip lacks.

For a user prioritizing raw Cinebench scores, the Intel part wins. For a user prioritizing platform modernity, integrated graphics, power efficiency, and memory bandwidth, the AMD part is the more sensible choice despite losing every recorded benchmark.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 has an average benchmark score of 813, compared to 794 for the AMD A6-9400.

Q: Does the AMD A6-9400 win any head-to-head benchmark?

A: No. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775 wins all five recorded Cinebench comparisons, with deltas ranging from 2.1% to 2.6%.

Q: What is the core count difference between the two?

A: The Intel QX9775 has 4 cores and 4 threads. The AMD A6-9400 has 2 cores and 2 threads.

Q: Which processor supports DDR4 memory?

A: The AMD A6-9400 supports DDR4 in a dual-channel configuration with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel QX9775 uses DDR2 memory.

Q: Does either processor include integrated graphics?

A: Yes, the AMD A6-9400 includes Radeon R5 integrated graphics. The Intel QX9775 has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the TDP values compare?

A: The Intel QX9775 has a TDP of 150 W, while the AMD A6-9400 has a TDP of 65 W.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The five recorded Cinebench comparisons consistently favor the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775, but the margins are tight across the board. Starting with Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Intel part scores 238 against 232 for the AMD chip, a 2.6% advantage. This is the largest relative gap in the entire set.

Cinebench R20 multi-core shows a nearly identical story. The QX9775 scores 992, while the A6-9400 scores 969, a 2.4% difference. The single-core variant of the same test gives the Intel chip a 139 to 136 win, which translates to 2.2%. This pattern suggests that the Intel part's advantage is consistent regardless of thread count, likely due to its larger cache and four physical cores.

Cinebench R23 multi-core follows the established trend. The Intel processor records 2363 points versus 2309 for the AMD chip, a 2.3% margin. Finally, Cinebench R23 single-core shows the smallest delta of the group: 333 versus 326, or 2.1%. Notably, the single-core gaps are only slightly smaller than the multi-core gaps, indicating that the Intel architecture's per-core efficiency remains competitive with the higher-clocked AMD part.

The average benchmark scores reinforce these head-to-head results. The QX9775's 813 average sits 2.4% above the A6-9400's 794. In the broader context of all CPUs, the Intel chip ranks at the 22nd percentile, while the AMD chip ranks at the 21st percentile. The nearest rivals for each chip are telling: the QX9775 matches the Intel Core i7-5550U exactly at 813, while the A6-9400 matches the AMD A10-5800B at 794. Both chips are effectively locked into the same competitive tier, separated by a margin that would rarely be perceptible in real-world application use.